Nation
“Adebanjo, Fasoranti can’t split Afenifere” – Prof. Adeniran, Farounbi, others
Olusesan Laoye
The raging controversy over the leadership of Afenifere, the pan Yoruba socio-cultural group and its endorsement of the Labour Party, presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has attracted the attention of elders and other stakeholders, who expressed concern over the development, stressing that it portends ominous sign for the coming election and the future of Nigeria.
The leadership tussle arose from the principled position held by the acting leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, to endorse Obi, from the Southeast, on the basis of equity, fairness and justice, over the a Yoruba candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, whose region, the Southwest, had produced a president for eight years and vice president for another eight years since 1999, while the Southeast is yet to feature.
However, another group, purportedly led by the 96 year old, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, emerged last week and endorsed Tinubu during a visit to the former leader of Afenifere, who had step down for Adebanjo on account of age and failing health. This move was further cemented with a reported suspension of Adebanjo by the other group, alleged to be sponsored by Tinubu.
This crisis has not only factionalized the group but also created a moral burden for the Yoruba, who want to perpetuate their dominance of the political process since 1999. Hence, some Yoruba elders and leaders have intervened to nip the problem in the bud.
The three main candidates are from the three main ethnic groups, Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo. While the North has Atiku Abubakar, contesting under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), the Western region has Senator, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, from the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Eastern region produced Mr. Peter Obi, jostling for the coveted position, under the Labour Party (LP).
The situation is so tensed now, as it may compel people to want to toe ethnic lines in backing their candidates. While there has never been hues and cry from the other regions or their leaders sharing views contradicting themselves, the situation in the Southwest differs.
It would be recalled that series of controversies had trailed both the existence and operations of Afenifere in which it was believed that the organisation was founded by the late sage, Chief Obafeni Awolowo, in 1951. But different facts emerged from Chief Bisi Akande, former governor of Osun State and former interim National Chairman of the APÇ, in his controversial book “My Participation” that it was the late first executive governor of the old Oyo state and former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige who founded it in his House at Ibadan.
Despite all the controversies which had engulfed the Pan Yoruba group in the past, even with the role allegedly played by Tinubu, which caused a splinter group of Afenifere to emerge, under the leadership of late Senator Ayo Fasanmi, the original Afenifere now under the leaderships of chiefs Fasoranti and Adebanjo, still remains intact, while the splinter groups have gone out of extinctions.
The main task ahead of the organisation, is how the tussle which was allegedly caused by what people in some quarters described as selfish interests of some politicians, both within the Yoruba circle and outside it would be resolved,
Prominent Yoruba leaders and members of Afenifere, who were contacted by the Business Hallmark for their reactions on the ongoing imbroglio between the two fathers of Afenifere over the presidency, were of the views that the issue would not have any effect on the Yoruba people and even Afenifere, though it was unfortunate that the leadership differs in their preference for the presidential candidates.
In his comment on the perceived crisis rocking Afenifere, one of the die hard Awoist and a strong believer and Apostle of late Bola Ige, and former, Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Yemi Farounbi told Business Hallmark that, “It’s sad that we are witnessing a public exhibition of avoidable disagreement among two elders.
“It should be obvious that an acting leader can only operate within the authority delegated by the leader. The acting leader should therefore, have consulted the substantive leader on such a major issue like this. It would appear that many other leaders/elders were not consulted by Pa Adebanjo.
“What affects all of us ought to have been decided upon by all of us.
Unfortunately this appeared not to have been so. And it speaks volumes on the inappropriateness and perhaps non- inclusiveness of the decision making process within Afenifere.”
According to him, “it also raises doubt about the role and continuing relevance and usefulness of the Afenifere as an Organization.
“Repeatedly, Pa Adebanjo has said Afenifere is a partisan political association in the mould of Action Group or Alliance for Democracy, Unfortunately many Yoruba see Afenifere as an umbrella Association for all Yorubas. They don’t see Afenifere as an enclave of a narrow partisan faction within the Yoruba.
“The matter is more complicated by a 1995 decision taken in Premier Hotel by all leaders and elders in Yoruba that the Leader of Afenifere will also double as leader of the Yoruba. A leader of a partisan faction is also expected to provide leadership for all Yoruba, irrespective of partisan tendencies and political cum religious affiliations.”
He further said that, “This would appear not correctly understood by Pa Adebanjo. From what Pa Adebanjo believes and loudly proclaims, Afenifere is not socio-cultural association like Ohaneze, PANDEF and Arewa. That being so, Pa Adebanjo ought not to have been making magisterial declarations on behalf of the Yoruba.”
“It also raises the need for the Yorubas to begin to differentiate between eldership and leadership. Eldership is a function of age and in my view of people who should be TRUSTEES. Leadership should relate more to functions, roles and duties.
“There appears to be a crying need for such clear demarcation. As the Yoruba would say, today’s horse should run today’s race. And as Fela sang in ALUJOINKIJAN, the Elders should be preserved in sacred hidden place for their wisdom.”
“To me Pa Adebanjo has been operating as a partisan political leader, making pronouncements on behalf of his party, not necessarily in the interest of the Yoruba but in the interest of his partisan political grouping.”
“Pa Fasoranti has operated in his dual capacity as the leader of the Yoruba, speaking in the interest of all Yorubas. Perhaps to prevent such a situation in future, the Yoruba will need to create an all embracing and all inclusive body headed by Asiwaju of Yoruba like Chief Obafemi Awolowo was made in 1967. Or the Afenifere can shed it’s narrow partisan toga and become the overall umbrella body for all Yorubas.”
He stressed that there has to be an improvement on the decision making system so that it can be more democratic and participatory.
One of the leaders of the think tank and who is always in the forefront of Yoruba agenda and policy making, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) said that what is happening in Afenifere would have no effect on the Yoruba as a body.
He argued that Yoruba believed that the presidency should come to the pegion and they see the presidency of Tinubu as a Yoruba project which all of must support.
Chief Akintola, who was a governorship aspirant in Oyo state APC, pointed out that Chief Adebanjo has the right to his own opinion but you can be assured that he would never work against the interest of the Yoruba people.
“Let us come to face the reality, it is only in APC where the interests of the Yoruba people are now well protected. For instance, Yoruba have nothing to fight for in PDP where the North is the Chairman and presidential candidate and where the South-South is the running mate and nothing for Yoruba.
“The same in the Labour party, where the presidential candidate is from the East and his running mate is from the North. This is not the time to start apportioning blame. We must see Tinubu in APC as a Yoruba project because that is where we have a say and a way.”
In her own reaction, the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State under Tinubu Madam Kofo Akerele Bucknor, who is a staunch member of Afenifere, and seemed to tilt toward Pa Adebanjo, believed that there was no crisis within the group. She believed that Afenifere headed by Adebanjo has taken a decision on Peter Obi.
“It is not possible to remove Pa Adebanjo for speaking the truth. But one thing I can assure Nigerians is that we are going to resolve whatever differences we have and what is happening in Afenifere, would not affect the Yoruba people, who still have strong hope in the organisation”
She pointed out that, “as it is, Yoruba people are independent in their thinking and decisions They are not also timid to express their individual views on issues but are always together, to take a strong stand that would benefit the Yoruba race, wherever they may be.”
Madam Bucknor, who is a strong member of the PDP argued, “Yoruba are unique people, who will never allow the ambition of a single person to split both Afenifere and the entire race”
The General Secretary of the Yoruba Councol of Elders (YCE) Dr. Kunle Olajide pointed out that as far as he was concerned, there was no crisis between Pa Adebanjo and Pa Fasoranti, saying, the press are blowing what happened out of proportion.
“Let me assure you, Yoruba people are united in the decision that we have taken. We are all moving in the same direction and at the end of the day, Yoruba would be one, on what would benefit them. As such the decisions of one or two people will not split Afenifere nor the Yoruba people.”
He said, “what people don’t know is that it is in this kind of situation that the Yoruba become very strong and stay together to chart a common cause for their rights as a formidable force”
Former Minister of Education Professor Tunde Adeniran was of the opinion that whatever is happening in Afenifere would not affect the Yoruba people.
“Although it is not right for two elders to dance naked in the market, both Pa Adebanjo and Pa Fasoranti are great Yoruba and National leaders. The Yoruba nation is very lucky to still have them around and they are great leaders who have contributed to the unity of Yoruba people and Nigeria.”
Professor Adeniran believes that what could have cause the issue was communication gap and probably error of judgment, which “we all their followers and the entire Yoruba people are ready to over look. whatever the errors are”.
“I believed that some selfish politicians must have dragged the two elders and leaders into this. They both meant well and passionate about the unity of the Yoruba race and Nigeria as a whole.”
He further said “Afenifere would rise and all of us, who are disciples and children of Chief Awolowo would still come together. We are appealing to the media not to over blow the issue.
Everything would be resolved. Our prayer is that both of them should live longer for us to be able to celebrate them.”
“My concern however, is the unity of the Yoruba race, Nigeria and the black race, because if we failed to get it right the entire black race would be affected, that is why people like me would continue to uphold and uplift the legacy of Chief Awolowo”
In his own submission a member of Afenifere and former Secretary of ACN and now leader of APC in Ondo State, Mr. Gbenga Adedipe said, basically Yoruba people are united and always fighting a common goal.
“You will recall that when the Fulani wanted to fight us in 1805 we mobilized and stop them. We are a unique tribe and we always find a way of settling our differences. Those who want to capitalize on the Afenifere crisis should know that they can’t dvide the Yoruba people who are focused and know what they want collectively.
