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.
Stating that 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 of the Tinubu’s meeting was to create a wedge between him and Pa Fasoranti and he was not bothered about it.
Adebanjo further stated that those in attendance at the meeting were Yoruba APC chieftains.
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 Peter Obi, from the South East region of Nigeria as the preferred candidate who best represents the ideals of Afenifere in 2023.
Pa Adebanjo told Daily Trust that Fasoranti called him over the phone on the meeting on Sunday and that he warned him of the dangers of the meeting and endorsement.
According to him, “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.
First published in Daily Trust