NB247
There is a brewing hostility in Afenifere, the Pan Yoruba Socio-Cultural and Political group, as the two factions have clashed over the appointment of rights activist, Dele Farotimi, as the Organizing Secretary of the organization.
The two factions: the Ayo Adebanjo group and Reuben Fasoranti led faction held separate meetings on Tuesday in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State and Akure in Ondo State respective, taking far reaching decisions affecting the organization.
The Ayo Adebanjo group at its Tuesday’s appointed Mr Farotimi, as the Organizing Secretary, in the face of a previous appointment of Kole Omololu as Organizing Secretary by the Fasoranti-led faction.
Mr Farotimi’s appointment also came shortly after Afe Babalola withdrew his criminal defamation charges against the rights lawyer.
At Tuesday’s meeting chaired by factional Deputy Leader of Afenifere, Oladipo Olaitan at Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, the call was made for the immediate release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.
In a reaction to the appointment, the Reuben Fasoranti group has denounced the appointment, saying was of non-effective.
In a statement titled “Pa.Fashoranti Remains Afenifere’s True Leader” and signed by Mr Omololu, the group rejected Mr Farotimi’s appointment as Organizing Secretary by the faction loyal to Mr Adebanjo at the Ijebu-Igbo meeting.
“There is only one Afenifere, and it is headed by Fasoranti,” the statement said, adding that any appointment made by any group masquerading as Afenifere is null, void, and of no consequence.
“It is important to clarify that there is only one authentic Afenifere, which remains under the leadership of Pa. Reuben Fashoranti,” Mr Omololu further said.
“This body continues to uphold the core values and principles that have guided us since the formation of Afenifere, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to the welfare and progress of the Yoruba people and the entire nation.
‘While we respect the democratic rights of individuals to organize and associate, the leadership of Pa. Fasoranti is the only legitimate and recognized Afenifere.
“It is imperative that the public is aware of the distinction between the authentic Afenifere and any other groups that may claim the name for political purposes.
“As we continue our work, our focus remains on unity, justice, and the advancement of democratic values. We are committed to collaborating with all those who share these principles, irrespective of factional differences.
“The future of our region and our country depends on our ability to remain united and focused on the issues that matter most to our people.”
Trouble started when Afenifere appointed Adebanjo as the acting leader of the group in 2022.
But a fracture occured when some members of the group led by Mr Adebanjo publicly declared their support for Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2013 election.
This was opposed to the stand of Mr Fasoranti and others who in Akure, endorsed President Bola Tinubu. Both factions had walked parallel paths ever since.
However in January 2024, the group meeting Akure decided to abrogate the office of Acting Leader, reaffirming Mr Fasoranti as the ultimate leader of Afenifere.
This decision failed to deter the Ijebu-Igbo faction of the group, as they have carried on as Afenifere nonetheless.