The youth wing of Afenifere yesterday passed a “Vote of No Confidence” in the national leader of the Yoruba socio-political organisation, Chief Ayo Adebanjo.
The youths under the aegis of Yoruba Afenifere Youths Organisation of Nigeria (YAYON) led a protest to Pa Reuben Fasoranti’s residence in Akure, Ondo State capital, demanding that Adebanjo step down as the leader.
Armed with placards bearing different inscriptions, the protesting youths who shouted solidarity songs specifically accused Adebanjo of compromising the interest of Yoruba people.
Daily Trust reports that the inscription on the placards include “Pa Fasoranti: Pls Revoke The Mandate you gave Pa Adebanjo Now,” “Afenifere Must Be Restructured Now,” “Pa Fasoranti Please Rescue Afenifere,” “Ayo Adebanjo Must Go”; and “Pa Ayo Adebanjo: Time to step aside from Afenifere.”
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Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the national youth leader of the group, Eric Oluwole, said the youth wing would not recognise Adebanjo as the national leader and that Fasoranti remained the leader since he only appointed Adebanjo to act on his behalf for a while.
He alleged that the group had been derailing since Adebanjo took over as acting leader.
Also speaking, Bukola Olusoto, the women leader of Afenifere, explained that both the youths and women in Afenifere had decided that sanity should be restored to the socio-political group.
“We are here to pass a vote of no confidence in Chief Ayo Adebanjo. We are in support of Pa Fasoranti. We no longer have confidence in him. We don’t recognise him anymore. We only recognise Baba (Fasoranti) and we stand by him,” she said.
Addressing the protesters on behalf of Fasoranti, the chief security officer to the Afenifere leader, Ogunkalu Sunday, sued for peace among the youth.
“Baba (Fasoranti) said he is aware of all you are asking for and he said you should not fight but allow peace to reign,” he said.
Reacting, Adebanjo described the protesters as strangers who do not exist in the apex Yoruba group.
He said, “I don’t know them and I have repeatedly said I don’t know their fathers. I don’t know their parents. They are only encouraging them to be talking.
“I have told you they don’t exist. I think some people just gathered them and gave them money to make them start talking as if something is happening in Afenifere.”
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