- Says Tinubu’s endorsement diversionary
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has reiterated that the organisation’s support for the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi’s presidential project for 2023 general elections remains unshakable and there are no distractions whatsoever.
Accordingly, he has described the meeting between All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and former Afenifere leader and a prominent Yoruba leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, the Ondo State capital as diversionary.
Commenting on reports coming out the Akure meeting, Chief Adebanjo said the “Real Afenifere” has made its position known about endorsing the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, and that has not changed.
The Afenifere Leader noted that the intent of the meeting was to create a wedge between him and Pa Fasoranti but there was no cause to worry as the group would not be cowed into promoting and supporting injustice in the name of politics and ethnic bias.
Chief Adebanjo disclosed that Pa Fasoranti had called him over the phone about the meeting and he cautioned him to be wary of being dragged into the dirty politics currently playing out.
The Elder Statesman said; “The Yoruba People know their leader. I’ve spoken, the National Secretary has spoken. This is no the time to engage in polemics. The way forward is my position.
“What happened was a diversion. They want us to be engaged in arguments. Is that the issue now?”
Insisting that in the interest of fairness and justice, it is the turn of the South East to produce the next President, Pa Adebanjo further said; “Can he (Tinubu) deny it that the South-West has not had its turn? Can he deny it the South-South has not had its turn? They should answer that. As far as I am concerned, the meeting does not concern us as Afenifere.
“Afenifere is not divided. That was why I said I don’t want to engage in polemics. They want to throw a wedge between me and Pa Reuben Fasoranti and I won’t allow it. The man phoned me yesterday and I warned him, don’t get yourself involved.”
He described those that went with Tinubu to visit Pa Fasoranti as Yoruba APC chieftains and not in anyway representatives of Afenifere.
Reports had dotted the media space that the APC flag bearer met and got endorsement from Pa Fasoranti after presenting his 80-page manifesto to the nonagenarian with other prominent Yoruba leaders in attendance.
