By Ibe Pascal
Divisions in Afenifere, a foremost sociopolitical Yoruba group have increased after a former leader of the group endorsed the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congres, APC, Ahmed Bola Tinubu 2023 presidential ambition.
On Sunday, the leader of pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, prayed for the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu, who visited the Yoruba leader, presented his action plan to Fasoranti and other leaders of the group.
He was received at the airport by the state deputy governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa, the state chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin and other leaders of the party in and outside the state.
Adebanjo kicks
Meanwhile the leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has described the meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with the former leader of the group and a prominent Yoruba leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, Ondo State, as diversionary.
He 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.
Pa Adebanjo said the intent was to create a wedge between him and Pa Fasoranti and he was not bothered about it.
Tinubu had met Pa Fasoranti where he presented his 80-page manifesto to the nonagenarian with other prominent Yoruba leaders in attendance.
The meeting came after Adebanjo endorsed a South-Easterner as the preferred candidate of Afenifere in 2023.
Speaking with Daily Trust, Adebanjo said Fasoranti called him over the phone yesterday and he warned him.
He 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?”
He insisted that in the interest of fairness and justice, it is the turn of the South East to produce the next President.
“Can he (Tinubu) deny it that the South-West has not had its turn? Can he deny it 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 said.
Adebanjo further stated that those in attendance at the meeting were Yoruba APC chieftains.
Gov Makinde says Oyo people will vote “a Yoruba”
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde on Sunday sent a subtle solidarity message to the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress(APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general election.
This was made known by the Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Bayo Lawal who represented Seyi Makinde in Ondo State at the reception of Tinubu by the leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti .
Lawal noted that though separated by political affiliation, but united by strong ethnic bonds.
Seyi Makinde and four other PDP governors believed to be aggrieved over party leadership tussles have been at loggerheads with the Chairman of the People Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Iyorcha Ayu over the zoning of the party’s chairmanship seat.
Makinde and notably, Rivers state governor, Nyesome Wike boycotted Atiku’s campaign launch in Akwa Ibom state including a recent campaign held in Edo state, moves believed to have heightened tensions in the camps of Atiku’s loyalist
Political pundits predicted defections with many believing the five aggrieved PDP governors, including Makinde might pitch their tents with the APC presidential candidate, Tinubu.
Speaking in the Yoruba language at the event, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mr Bayo Lawal who represented Gov Makinde, stressed that the people of his state will stand with the decision of Yoruba leaders as regards the 2023 presidential election.
His words: “ Since Makinde became governor, he doesn’t joke with anything that concerns the Yoruba people, whenever baba (Pa Fasoranti) calls him, he is always available.
“Whenever there is an event, either organized by Afenifere or any other Yoruba group, Gov Makinde will always be supportive. Though we are not of the same political affiliation, but we are bound by ethnicity”.
“The message he sent me to deliver here is that, whatever you are doing in Yorubaland, Makinde, Oyo people are in support of it.”
After ending his speech at the event, Lawal sang a song Yoruba song, “…Asiwaju ni wa, Asiwaju ni wa” which literally means “We are the one who leads” and the same song can be interpreted as a pledge to Tinubu (Asiwaju)
Vanguard reported that Bola Tinubu visited Afenifere leader, Pa Fasoranti where he unveiled his action plan and was blessed by the Yoruba leader who dismissed Ayo Adebanjo to labour party’s candidate, Peter obi.
Others in the news
Obi, Sowore begin campaign
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, on Saturday, commenced his presidential campaign in the ancient city of Kano in what was described as the “People’s Assembly”.
The event took place at the Kano Anti-Corruption Institute in the heart of the city, with the hall filled with supporters of the party.
Sowore, who introduced the manifesto of the party, was accompanied by his vice presidential candidate, Garba Magashi, and the governorship candidate of the party, Sani Yakasai.
He later attended an event aimed at eradicating mosquitoes in Kano and also made an appearance at a local wrestling game known as Dembe.
The AAC, in a statement by its Spokesperson, Onyinye-Gandhi Chukwunyere, on Saturday, assured Nigerians of “liberty on the ballot.”
“From the great city of Kano where we launched our liberation campaign today (Saturday), we’ll traverse the length and breadth of our country, inspiring and uniting our people for the very important task of flushing out corrupt politicians and redeeming the country. We are very confident that with their support and partnership, the AAC shall build for the Nigerian people a nation of which they will be very proud.
“The AAC, hereby, assures the Nigerian people who have had to endure endless treachery, deceit, and oppression at the hands of failed politicians, that help is on the way. With our participation in this election, liberty is now on the ballot,” Chukwunyere said.
He added that Nigeria had almost been overrun by terrorists under the ruling All Progressives Congress government, and Nigerians facing harsh economic crisis. He said this was unacceptable.
“Today, our country is teetering on the brink of collapse. The economy is in shambles with the mix of high unemployment, low wages, crippling inflation, and meager social investments driving our people further into poverty. Over 20 million Nigerian children are out of school, public education at all levels is comatose, literal darkness pervades the country as investment in critical infrastructure, especially energy, remains low, and mired in corruption.
“Worsening insecurity has further reduced the quality of life for ordinary Nigerians. Terrorists, bandits, and a coterie of other criminals now run portions of the country, terrorising our people, and even threatening to overrun Abuja, our political capital. The APC government has essentially abdicated it’s primary responsibility of ensuring the security and welfare of the Nigerian people. Under it’s watch, the Nigerian life is now nasty, brutish, and short. This is unacceptable,” the statement said.
“As we have repeatedly stated, the AAC is the only mass-based party in the country today with structures and programmes inspired by the struggles and aspirations of our people. Therefore, our commitment to radically transforming the country in a way that guarantees their welfare and security is unflinching.
“To be clear, the Sowore/Magashi ticket has the most carefully drawn up revolutionary programmes intended to decisively pull the country from the brink of collapse and anarchy, and administer it for the security and prosperity of our people,” the statement added.
ALSO the Labour Party (LP)’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Saturday, flagged-off his campaign in Saturday with a promise to end the lingering security challenges bedeviling the country.
Speaking during the event in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, he said the incessant clashes between herders/farmers, the raging attacks by bandits and Boko Haram insurgents would be tackled head-on.
He noted that a Labour Party government would paved the way for farmers to return to the farms without fear of attacks, thereby addressing food scarcity and consequent
He also promised to end the crisis in tertiary institutions occasioned by lingering strike actions by lecturers and non academic staffers through the right funding and infrastructural development.
He said, “If you vote for the Labour Party (LP) in 2023, we will address the persistent farmers/herders clashes in Nasarawa State and the farmers will go back to their farms. We will tackle the general insecurity bedeviling the entire nation.
“We will remove youths out of poverty. We will reduce criminality. We will solve the flood problem ravaging the country. The prices of goods will come down and there would be no challenges of food in the country.
“When the LP wins, there will no more be strike in the Nigerian Universities. The government will comprise of youths and women. We will provide fertilizer to farmers across the nation.”
Also speaking at the occasion, the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure said both the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar are not fit to administer the country.
He said Peter Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed are agile and healthy, adding the duo are the kind of leaders the country needs at this point in time.
He said, “All the challenges we have been having in the country is zeroed down to leadership problem,” he said.
“Our presidential candidate no dey go hospital; he is strong. Our presidential candidate no dey sick, the vice-presidential candidate no dey sick.
“Today, the country is sick. It is sick from insecurity, it is sick from unemployment, the economy is not working. If you put everything together, the country is sick and we cannot hand it over to sick people; we need vibrant, young, energetic people who can be awake day and night to solve the problems of the country and we have that person.
“We also need somebody who has character, integrity, somebody that will not take our money abroad.”
Atiku visits US
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is currently in the US, has visited the State Department on Saturday.
Atiku was accompanied by former Senate President Bukola Saraki; Governor Aminu Tambuwal, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi; former Governor Emeka Ihedioha; Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, among others.
In the delegation of the State Department were Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs; Karl Fickenscher, Acting Assistant Administrator USAID; Scott Busby, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour (DRL); Michael Heath, Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of African Affairs; Brian Neubert, Director, Office of West African Affairs, among others.
