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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The National Organising Secretary of pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Abagun Kole Omololu, has said the endorsement of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, by the leader of the group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has nullified any support declared for the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, by the acting leader of the organisation, Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Omololu said the coming together of Afenifere leaders in Akure last weekend, was to speak with one voice, and to sell a president of Yoruba extraction to the world, and Nigeria in particular.
“He (Tinubu) came and presented his programme to Afenifere and to the Yoruba leadership. It was perused and we all agreed that if he can successfully implement those plans, it will save Nigeria. It will give Nigeria the hope of the black world. So, it is something that we did not take lightly. We asked him several questions when we were inside baba’s living room before we came out. On that note, people agreed that because of his track record as a successful governor of Lagos State, he is a builder of men and someone who can connect with any part of Nigeria. We just believe that he is the man who can become the president. Before this, the leaders of Afenifere made due consultations across the spectrum of Yorubaland to bring about this meeting. In Afenifere, once we have consulted and agreed on a position, that is final; that is the tradition of Afenifere. It is not a one-man show,” he said.
Omololu also denied that Afenifere had earlier endorsed Obi’s candidature, saying it was Adebanjo’s opinion.
He said: “You said Afenifere had earlier endorsed Obi. Our acting leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, we adore and revere him very well. Up till this age, he is still agile, we thank God for his life. Because he was convinced by principle and morality that the North, South West and South South have tasted power, why don’t we allow the Igbos to have a taste? This is morally perfect, and it is on principle. But we should have agreed together. Like I told you, consultation is the hallmark of Afenifere and the norm of Afenifere is justice, equity and fairness. No doubt about that . Baba was never wrong by standing on that principle. But again, let us agree. May be pragmatism will dictate some other areas of strategy but pragmatism was not allowed to take effect. That is why the whole of Yoruba nation that assembled in Akure on Sunday decided otherwise and that is the voice of the people. This thing is not about where you come from, it is about who can do the job best for now. We want Nigeria to be taken out of the mess it is now. That is why the whole of Yoruba nation and the Afenifere reasoned that Asiwaju Tinubu is the symbol we can use for now.
“Nigeria is still a very young country democratically, so we need a leader who can lift us out of the woods. We need a bold and strategic leader, the Lee Kuan Yu of our time. A leader who will make Nigeria another Singapore and what the economist call practical experience. He (Tinubu) started very well in Lagos State; look at it now, Lagos is not competing with Nigeria, it is competing with international communities. That is the reason we’re backing Tinubu. We are still one but this is the decision of the majority. Yoruba people are highly sophisticated and you can’t push them anywhere without giving them a reason. This was what you saw at play last Sunday.”
The National Organising Secretary further explained that the pan-Youruba organisation is not divided along party lines, adding that the group always communicate via a communique when a decision has been made.
“Afenifere is still Afenifere; we are still one. We still have our leader as Pa Fasoranti and our acting leader as Pa Adebanjo and we have our national executive council. I am the only Organising Secretary; Sola Ebiseni is still the Secretary General. Though disagreement can come as human beings, I can assure you it will be resolved. Many may want Asiwaju, many may want Aitku or Obi but the leader has spoken now and that is the beauty of the Yoruba race. Once the leader has spoken, that is the end of the story and it will be very rebellious challenging the position of the leader. That is the leader, Baba Fasoranti; he is still alive and kicking. He has appointed an acting leader in the person of Pa Adebanjo. Those are the two giants we have.
“There was nowhere in our record, when Afenifere wants to speak to the world, it is always through a communiqué . But in this case, there has never being a communiqué to the effect that this is the person we want to support to be the president of Nigeria until the Sunday, October 30, when we issued our communique,” Omololu added.