The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has advised the public to disregard the comment of the leader of pan-Yoruba Socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, on issues about the Yoruba race, adding that the septuagenarian is solely speaking for himself and not the group.
The Director of Media and Publicity of the Campaign council, Mr Bayo Onanuga, stated this in a Facebook post titled “Our reaction to Baba Ayo Adebanjo and his Ohanifere venture,” on Saturday, he said, “Papa Ayo Adebanjo does not speak for Afenifere. He is free as an individual to support anyone he likes, in furtherance of his democratic right.
“We know for a fact that Baba has turned Afenifere into his personal estate as acting leader. We are also certain that there was nowhere Afenifere, as we know it, met and took a decision to adopt Mr Peter Obi as a candidate for 2023 presidential election.
“We respect the age of Baba Adebanjo but he cannot turn Afenifere into his personal franchise for any political alliance.”
Pa Adebanjo has repeatedly openly declared his support for the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, ahead of the forthcoming 2023 elections.
The Tinubu campaign Spokesperson chided Pa Adebanjo for speaking in the same voice with the Igbo central body, Ohaneze, thus the new name ‘Ohanifere.”
Onanuga declared that Pa Reuben Fasoranti is the real leader of Afenifere citing instances where Pa Fasoranti has called out Pa Adebanjo for speaking for himself on national issues using the name of the Yoruba group.
He, however, affirmed that Pa Adebanjo cannot appropriate Afenifere because he is just an individual who is free to support any politician of his choice.
“As an individual, he cannot equate himself with the socio-cultural and socio-political organisation,” he said.