VANGUARD
AKURE—THE crisis rocking the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, deepened, as the Reuben Fasoranti group abolished the position of Acting Leader and Deputy Leader of the group, presently occupied by Pa Ayo Adebanjo and Oba Oladipo Olaitan.
But when contacted for his reaction to the development, Pa Ayo Adebanjo said: “I have no comments.”
Recall that in 2021, Pa Fasoranti had stepped down as Afenifere leader, citing old age as the major reason for his decision.
He, however, announced Pa Adebanjo as the acting leader of the Yoruba group.
Fasoranti was made the leader of the group in 2008.
In 2021, Fasoranti, who spoke during the group’s monthly meeting held in Akure, the Ondo state capital, had said: “As the group needs more than ever before to have an improved organisation with a more effective approach to combat the monstrous invasion of our culture and pride as a people, only a more alike and active leadership can achieve this. At 95, I am hardly able to provide such and so, it is time for me to step aside.
“At this juncture, I am proud to announce Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a politician of the Awolowo school of thought as acting leader of Afenifere and His Royal Highness, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, the Alaago of Kajola Ago in Atakumosa East Local Government Area of Osun State as the Deputy Leader.”
But rising from its monthly meeting held at the country home of Fasoranti, the group said that the decision to abolish the position was to halt the polarisation.
At the instance of Fasoranti, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SSG, Oba Olu Falae, was mandated to preside over the meeting.
In its communique, read to newsmen, by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the group said that the motion on the need to abrogate the dual positions of Acting Leader and Deputy Leader was moved by a 92-year-old Professor of Surgery, Samuel Ibikunle from Ogun State and seconded by Dr Niyi Ikuomelo from Ondo State.
Professor Ibikunle, while moving the motion said that ” based on the report of the reconciliation committee, that it has reached a dead end and is unable to achieve reconciliation, I, Prof Samuel lbikunle of Ogun state Afenifere, hereby move that the offices of the acting leader and deputy leader should be dissolved into an Afenifere Elders Caucus to be constituted by the leader.
The communique reads: “A motion on the need to abrogate the dual positions of Acting Leader and Deputy Leader was moved by Dr. S. J. Ibikunle from Ogun State. It was seconded by Members from Ekiti, Kwara, Oyo and Ondo states.
“When the matter was thrown to the general house, the motion was unanimously carried.”
