Hassan Accuse Adebanjo of Hate against Tinubu
The Yoruba Council Worldwide has charged Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the head of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere, with launching a smear campaign against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the APC’s presidential candidate.
“If you’ve been following Baba Ayo Adebajo’s approach, it is a campaign of calumny against Asiwaju. It is not because of his (Tinubu’s) aspiration now. He (Adebanjo) has always been on that. At any given instance, Asiwaju will always come to the fore,” the President of the group, Oladotun Hassan, stated on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, Adebanjo reiterated his support for Peter Obi, a member of the Labour Party, over Tinubu, a Yoruba guy, in his bid for the presidency.
To retain Nigeria number one in 2023, according to the 94-year-old Afenifere leader, every Nigerian must be “Obi-Datti compliant.” Along with Datti Baba-Ahmed, Obi is vying for Aso Rock’s top position.
“We will not compromise this principle of justice, equity, and inclusiveness because one of our own, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is a frontline candidate,” Adebanjo said.
However, Hassan accused the Afenifere leadership of hate against the former Lagos State governor
“Asiwaju is their albatross; that has been the campaign they are after. Their support for Peter Obi is at the instance of their hatred against Asiwaju.
“In the last election, Afenifere supported Atiku (Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party). What is the driving force of Afenifere?” Hassan queried, adding that there is no consistency in Afenifere’s belief system and that the group’s statements could ignite ethnic violence between Yoruba and Igbo people.
“As President of Yoruba Council Worldwide, we believe in Asiwaju, we endorse Asiwaju, we are giving Asiwaju continuous support,” he submitted.
Meanwhile, an Afenifere chieftain, Gboyega Adejumo, countered Hassan, stating that the stance of Adebanjo-led Afenifere is guided by equity, fairness, and justice.
“Afenifere has been the only socio-political organisation with a high success rate in uniting Nigerians.
“It was Pa Adebanjo who made Asiwaju governor. But this is not about a Yoruba man; it is about equity and what is right for Nigerians,” Adejumo said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
