Afenifere Crisis deepens as Fasoranti and Adebanjo Battles over Leadership
Reuben Fasoranti and Ayo Adebanjo’s struggle for control of the Pan-Yoruba Socio-Political Organization, Afenifere, continues Tuesday, with the pair reaffirming their leadership.
Yesterday, Fasoranti, who had surrendered the reins to Adebanjo as interim leader in March 2021, declared that he was still in charge of Afenifere and that Adebanjo would no longer host group meetings, which would subsequently take place in Akure.
Adebanjo disagreed, arguing that Fasoranti had already retired and been officially transferred to him, negating any constitutional authority for him to do so (Adebanjo).
Both leaders disagree on whether to support Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP), or Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC’s nominee. While Adebanjo’s Afenifere backed Obi at a meeting in Lagos, Fasoranti backed Tinubu over the weekend in Akure.
In an interview yesterday, Fasoranti stated that there would be no more gatherings at the residence of Adebanjo and that the claim that he had resigned as the leader of Afenifere was false.
“It was a misunderstanding and misinterpretation from some people who thought I was going senile and couldn’t comprehend. When I heard that, I reacted, and the person who said that regretted saying so.”
Fasoranti added that the group meetings would be moved to Akure “as soon as the secretary and I put our heads together — and the leaders too.”
Fasoranti denied the group had endorsed Obi when asked about it.
“We have not deviated from the same principle. We still stand for the good of the people. I didn’t retire from the leadership of Afenifere. I was misinterpreted. I am still the leader of Afenifere.
“Afenifere is not endorsing Obi. We are endorsing Jagaban (Tinubu). As you can see, the trend, the followership, the approval and the acceptability.
“Adebanjo cannot warn me not to welcome Tinubu. Adebanjo took a stand, and I took a stand. We did not speak about Tinubu’s visit. It goes without saying that Jagaban is accepted, and we approve of it. Obi has no standing in our mind at all.”
Adebanjo had in a telephone interview with Vanguard last night said: “He (Fasoranti) has no constitutional right to do and say so. He has handed it over to me, that is the end of the matter. It is not an issue. He has retired. He wrote a letter and handed it to me. He said he was tired but is now confusing.
