The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Bola Tinubu, has caused a split in the ranks of Afenifere following his visit to Pa Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, Ondo State, and subsequent endorsement by the group for the 2023 election.
The APC standard bearer had visited the octogenarian and other leaders of the group from the six southwest states including Kwara and Kogi in the north central.
Tinubu visited the Afenifere leader to present the 80-page action plan manifesto on how he intends to tackle the economic and other problems the country is grappling with.
Speaking during the visit, Fasoranti, said Tinubu had earlier asked for his blessings in April this year, but he informed him to get the party’s ticket, first.
“l am happy that you’re here today after getting your party’s presidential ticket,” he said.
Fasoranti thereafter prayed for Tinubu to win the election and that he would be alive to witness his inauguration in May 2023.
Present at the event were the former secretary to the government of the federation, Mr. Olu Falae, former secretary general of the group, Mr. Sehinde Arogbofa, retired Methodist Bishop, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu; Chief Pius Akinyelure; Professor Isaac Adewole; Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Lieutenant General Alani Akinrinade (retd); General Olu Bajowa; Mr Sola Iji; general secretary of Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide; Senator Cornelius Adebayo; Senator Iyiola Omisore and Chief Bisi Akande; Mr. Dare Babarinsa.
Others were Chief Segun Adesegun, who represented former Governor Segun Osoba of Ogun State; Senator Tony Adefuye, Senator Dayo Adeyeye.
Fasoranti described Tinubu as not only a Yoruba man but a complete Nigerian adding that he was optimistic that the APC candidate would replicate and do even more than he did when he served as the governor of Lagos State.
In his remarks, Arogbofa said Tinubu is a complete Nigerian, who is not only popular among his people but across the country.
He charged Tinubu to be a leader who would unite and work for the progress and development of the country.
“Don’t let us have any regrets for supporting you. Our expectation on restructuring must be included in your agenda. We want you to remember this when you get there; people have been clamouring for and yearning for it.
“You are not just a Yoruba man but a Nigerian. When you become President, take Nigeria into consideration in all you do but you should never forget home.
“Our demands are what you know already: restructuring, security and fixing the economy. Our country is no longer safe. We want state police so that the country will be safe,” he said
For his part, Falae charged the APC candidate to work to fix the economy, for the country, according to him, is currently upside down in terms of security and economy.
Falae decried the free fall of the national naira and urged Tinubu to restore the economy and put Nigeria in the comity of nations.
“When you become President, please work to fix this country. We are here to offer advice. I am old and no longer looking for job. We need to fix security, fix our economy.
“Our naira is almost becoming useless and will soon become N1, 000 to a dollar. We must change that. I know your ability. We will always be here to support and I wish you well. We will be here when you bring the trophy home, by the grace of God.
In his remarks, Tinubu said Nigerians should expect to see a demonstrated thinking capacity and an outstanding performance if he is elected to power in 2023.
He noted that his emergence as APC candidate showed and proved to him that Nigeria can survive its unity and other challenges confronting it as a nation, pledging not to give up about Nigeria.
Also speaking, the governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Bayo Lawal, said: “Though we are not in the same party but from the same race, we are pacesetter and we will continue to be pacesetter and associate with other pacesetters in every sphere.”
Reacting to the endorsement, a member of the executive committee of Afenifere, Professor Akinyemi Onigbinde faulted the gathering that ‘endorsed’ Tinubu, saying those at the gathering had distant ties with the main pan-Yoruba organization, Afenifere.
Shedding light on the structure and workings of Afenifere, Oningbinde, in a statement, said he was privy to futile moves to drag the leadership of the Afenifere into the Akure project.
The statement reads: “Not a single member of the executive committee of Afenifere, under the leadership of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, as duly put in place by Pa Reuben Fasoranti when he handed over the leadership to Pa Ayo Adebanjo, was present at the Akure meeting.
“Not even Afenifere General Secretary who is from Ondo state, and probably lives in Akure dignified the crowd of APC faithful at the premises of Pa Fasoranti with his esteemed presence.
“Unknown to many, Pa Fasoranti called Pa Ayo Adebanjo and informed him of Bola Tinubu’s request to pay him a visit, and wanted to know if he should go ahead to grant him audience. Pa Adebanjo advised that it would not be proper to not receive the APC presidential candidate, as others would still come on such visits.
“I am a member of Afenifere EXCO, I am a member of the caucus, and I am also on the political committee, and I was duly invited to Akure meeting, through a telephone call by Alagba Seinde Arogbofa. I declined, and I informed him that he should inform Pa Fasoranti of my apology to not honour his invitation to join him in receiving Bola Tinubu.
“I looked through the list of those present at the Akure ‘blessing’ of the presidential bid of Bola Tinubu, they are majorly people whose ties with Afenifere is so distant, as to be non-existent. “Many of them, supposed Afenifere members, have not been at any of Afenifere monthly general meetings in the last two years.
“They are at best functional APC members, who should be in the company of their party candidate to seek support from anyone that may be willing to give it.
“Yet, one or two definitely went to Akure to honour Pa Reuben Fasoranti’s invitation, out of respect for the old man. On Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid, Afenifere stand is clear, and it is not an Ayo Adebanjo personal position.”
Also, the Afenifere, through a statement signed by Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo said what transpired in Akure was nothing new but “a mere show of political antics.”
The statement said Pa Fasoranti resigned as leader of Afenifere last year with Pa Ayo Adebanjo stepping in as acting leader, and that the organisation has a well defined leadership structure, which is firmly in the hands of Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
The statement reads: “Chief Fasoranti resigned as leader last year, you may recall. Chief Ayo Adebanjo is his successor, with Oba Oladipo Olaitan as his deputy.
“Afenifere has an executive committee to which I belong. It is if anyone in that committee is seen to be supporting Tinubu that I am sure the organization will take appropriate actions. “Anyone following the developments in Afẹnifẹre in ́ the past years, will be conversant with the fact that Chief Fasoranti resigned from being Afenifere Leader. He therefore took himself out of partisan politics.”
With Tribune report
