Posted by The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization Afenifere has lost its focus, and the Yoruba Afenifere Youths Organization of Nigeria (YAYON) has demanded a reform of the organization.
Ayo Adebanjo, the group’s temporary leader, was given a vote of no confidence by the youth wing of the organization, which also made the request that he resign for the good of the group.
Following a joint gathering of Afenifere Youth national leaders in the Yoruba region, including Kogi and Kwara States, YAYON made their demands known during the South-West Youth Leaders world press conference held in Lagos on Tuesday.
During the press conference, the group’s national youth leader, Eric Oluwole, also criticized Adebanjo for suspending two national officers of Afenifere without consulting Reuben Fasoranti, the group’s national leader.
Adebanjo’s departure from the values and principles of Afenifere, according to the youths who demanded his resignation.
Further urging all well-meaning Afenifere leaders and members to follow the organization’s leadership, Fasoranti, who is still alive, YAYON emphasized that his decision on any issue remained final on behalf of Afenifere.
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“Afenifere was established 72 years ago as a powerful sociocultural organization and voice to legitimately protect and advance the interests of the Yoruba people within the Nigerian Federation. Fortunately, this philosophy has been upheld by all previous Afenifere Leaders, beginning with the esteemed Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, and Chief Abraham Adesanya, all of blessed memory, as well as the current leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti.
Afenifere became a powerful voice that was well-respected both inside and outside the Nigerian Federation, as well as the focal point of all popular struggles to transform Nigeria into a better, truer, and more balanced Federation where justice and equity will prevail for all.
“But we observed regrettably that Afenifere began to veer away from this long-term philosophy as soon as our father, Baba Ayo Adebanjo, assumed the role of Acting Leader and he abandoned the unwavering pursuit and defense first and foremost of the interests of the Yoruba people for whatever reasons.
“We regrettably observed that Baba Adebanjo vigorously campaigned against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the son of the Yoruba people, who is now the President-Elect of Nigeria, instead of uniting the Yoruba people behind him to become the leader of this great nation. Baba Adebanjo still desires the presidency outside of Yorubaland.
We made note of Pa Ayo Adebanjo’s status as the Acting Leader appointed by Pa Reuben Fasoranti in order to be clear that he is not the Leader of Afenifere. We firmly assert that Pa Adebanjo’s appointment as acting leader is consistent with previous events in our illustrious past.
“Pa Ayo Adebanjo cannot mortgage our future, we promise. We challenge him to give us a good reason for criticizing and defaming our son of the soil, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was recently elected president of Nigeria in a free, fair, and credible election that was free of rigging or money-making.
We vehemently denounced Pa Ayo Adebanjo’s egregious disobedience as acting leader of Afenifere. A vote of no confidence is hereby passed against Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the Acting Leader of Afenifere, and he should immediately cease posing as the Leader or Acting Leader of Afenifere. “.