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Tag: Afenifere

  • Tinubu not running Yoruba govt, Afenifere declares

    Tinubu not running Yoruba govt, Afenifere declares

    The Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere, yesterday dismissed insinuation in some quarters that President Bola Tinubu was running a Yoruba government. Rather, the group said that the administration of President Tinubu, is a “Nigerian government”. The group’s Organizing Secretary, Abagun Kole Omololu, in a statement issued yesterday condemned a clandestine plot as contained in an expose by one Dr Sandra Duru to sabotage the administration of President Tinubu which conspirators have stereotyped as a Yoruba government.

    According to Afenifere, “This is no light accusation. It is a revelation that demands reflection from patriots and repudiation from all who still hold Nigeria dear. Let it be said, plainly and without ambiguity, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government is not a Yoruba government. It is a Nigerian government. He did not ascend to the presidency by tribal inheritance but by democratic choice — the result of votes cast in faith by Nigerians of every tongue, creed, and religion.

    “To label this administration as ‘Yoruba’ and weaponize that label as grounds for sabotage is not only dishonest, but a vile act of tribal opportunism and sedition. We reject it utterly.

    “We remind the nation: When President Muhammadu Buhari held office for eight years, no one branded his leadership as a ‘Fulani government.’ No tribal coalition was formed to deny him a second term on the grounds of ethnicity. He was allowed to serve out his mandate in full — and rightly so.

    The same principle of equity and continuity must apply now. Let no one demand justice only when it suits them, but deny it when it is owed to others. President Tinubu shall serve his full term of eight years, by the will of the good people of this country and under the watch of the Constitution. To suggest otherwise is to play Russian roulette with our national destiny. “Afenifere salutes Dr. Sandra Duru for her uncommon courage — for speaking truth not only to power, but to conspiracy. Her voice is a reminder that integrity still walks among us, and that silence, in the face of wickedness, is not an option for those who love this country.

    “Nigeria is not a personal or tribal empire. Our nation will not bow to tribal blackmail. It will not bend to invented narratives. And it will not break under the weight of conspiracy. Let all patriots rally to the defence of truth, justice, and constitutional order. We have come too far to be dragged backward by petty ambition disguised as activism. Let us reject the agents of sabotage — not because they threaten one man, but because they threaten all of us”.

  • UK, US chapters reject Oba Olaitan as Afenifere’s factional leader

    UK, US chapters reject Oba Olaitan as Afenifere’s factional leader

    Two groups, under the platform of the United Kingdom and the United States of America chapters of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, have rejected the appointment of Oba Oladipo Olaitan as the association’s leader.

    This was contained in a statement by the chairmen of the groups, Babatunde Shianaba (UK), and Dr Durojaiye Akindutire (US), made available to our correspondent in Akure, Ondo State, on Saturday,

    Olaitan was appointed as the leader of the Afenifere, loyal to the late Pa Ayo Adebanjo, at the group’s meeting held at Sanya Ogbo Ijebu, Ogun State, on Tuesday.

    The appointment came a few days after the death of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who passed away at the age of 97.

    Oba Olaitan was the deputy to the late Adebanjo

    However, in the statement, the UK and US chapters of Afenifere, described the appointment of Oba Olaitan as an affront to the Afenifere in general.

    They declared that Pa Reuben Fasoranti remained the leader of the association.

    The statement read, “Afenifere remains a structured and principled organisation under the leadership of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, a revered elder statesman whose wisdom and steadfast guidance continue to shape the destiny of the Yoruba people.

    “It is wholly against Yoruba culture and values for younger individuals to belittle elders or seek to usurp the authority of well-established leaders.

    “Those parading themselves as representatives of a so-called faction of Afenifere are nothing more than political opportunists and self-serving power traders.

    “If they wish to establish a separate entity, they are at liberty to do so, but they must desist from exploiting Afenifere’s revered name to further their personal ambitions.

    “Afenifere has always been a movement dedicated to the welfare of the Yoruba people within Nigeria, advocating for justice, equity, and good governance.

    “The very notion that a faction could claim to represent Afenifere while acting in direct contradiction to its founding principles is patently absurd. We urge such individuals to educate themselves on the rich and noble history of Afenifere rather than engage in reckless political manoeuvring.”

    While appealing to Olaitan to desist from assuming the office of a leader of the group, the Afenifere in diaspora said traditional rulers were expected to serve as custodians of peace and unity, not as instruments of discord within respected socio-political structures.

    They also called for his sanction.

  • Afenifere in UK, US disown Oba Olaitan as leader

    Afenifere in UK, US disown Oba Olaitan as leader

    The United Kingdom and United States chapters of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, have rejected the appointment of Oba Oladipo Olaitan as the new leader of the organization, dismissing the claim as misleading and erroneous.

    In a joint statement signed by Dr. Durojaiye Akindutire, Chairman of Afenifere USA, and Engr. Babatunde Shianaba, Chairman of Afenifere UK, described the claim as a deliberate misrepresentation of facts.

    “This misleading claim is not only false but also a grave affront to the esteemed institution of Afenifere, which has long been a beacon of Yoruba socio-political advancement,” the statement read.

    They emphasized that Afenifere remains a structured and principled organization under the leadership of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, a revered elder statesman whose wisdom and steadfast guidance continue to shape the Yoruba people’s destiny.

    The statement strongly condemned those attempting to divide the group:

    “It is wholly against Yoruba culture and values for younger individuals to belittle elders or seek to usurp the authority of well-established leaders. Those parading themselves as representatives of a so-called faction of Afenifere are nothing more than political opportunists and self-serving power traders.”

    The leaders urged such individuals to form their political entity rather than exploit Afenifere’s revered name for personal ambitions.

    Afenifere’s UK and US chapters also called on Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to caution Oba Oladipo Olaitan against meddling in the group’s affairs in a divisive manner.

    “Traditional rulers are expected to serve as custodians of peace and unity, not as instruments of discord within respected socio-political structures. It is beneath the dignity of an Oba to be manipulated as a pawn in efforts to destabilize an organization that has tirelessly championed Yoruba progress.”

    The statement further criticized Olaitan’s credentials, questioning his legitimacy to lead Afenifere:

    “It is preposterous that a fourth-class Oba from a remote hamlet in Ijesha land, Alaago-Kajola, would harbor ambitions of leading Afenifere and, by extension, the Yoruba people.”

    They accused him of previous political miscalculations, including his 2007 Osun State gubernatorial candidacy under the now-defunct NDP, a party linked to the late General Sani Abacha’s political machinery.

    “Olaitan disregarded wise counsel from Afenifere leaders, demonstrating a long-standing pattern of pursuing an anti-Yoruba agenda.”

    As a result, they called on Pa Reuben Fasoranti to expel Oba Olaitan from Afenifere, citing his lack of commitment and absence from official meetings since March 16, 2021.

    “His continued association with Afenifere is untenable. He must be expelled, just like others falsely parading themselves as members without any legitimate affiliation.”

    Concluding the statement, Afenifere’s UK and US representatives reiterated that the organization has no faction, and remains firmly under the leadership of Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

    “Any attempt to sow confusion or distort the truth will ultimately fail, for history and justice shall always prevail.”

  • Gunmen Kidnap Afenifere Youth Leader, Request N100m Ransom

    Gunmen Kidnap Afenifere Youth Leader, Request N100m Ransom

    The Afenifere Youth Council National President, Eniola Ojajuni, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Abuja.

    Abiodun Aderohunmu the National Secretary of the council, in a statement yesterday stated that the incident happened on Monday, February 17.

    As stated by Aderohunmu, the kidnappers were demanding a N100 million ransom, stating.

    “The Afenifere National Youths Council is deeply saddened to announce the kidnapping of its National President, Prince Eniola Joseph Ojajuni, in Abuja, Nigeria. “The unfortunate incident occurred yesterday, and the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N100, 000,000.

    In the process of kidnapping, Prince Ojajuni was wounded by bullet on his buttock. We are deeply affected about his safety and well-being, and we urge the kidnappers to free him unharmed.

    Prince Ojajuni is a prominent figure in Nigeria and a strong advocate for youth empowerment and development.”

    The federal government and security agencies were asked to act faster for Ojajuni’s return while imploring Nigerians with credible information to help.

    As at the time of filing this report, the Federal Capital Territory police command is yet to respond on this issue.

  • Afenifere mourns Clark, says it’s not yet uhuru

    Afenifere mourns Clark, says it’s not yet uhuru

    The Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere has mourned the death of the national leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF),Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.

    A statement by its deputy leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan and General secretary, Chief Olusola Ebiseni, said that the death of the nationalist, was another huge loss.

    The group noted that the call to glory of Chief Clark ” is no doubt another huge loss of rare a nationalist and statesman with courage for a Nigeria of equal opportunities and resultant peaceful co-existence of its constituent nationalities to achieve its manifest destiny as the leader of Africa and peoples of Africa descent.

    “In Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, Afenifere celebrates a life dedicated to the greatness of Nigeria and a voice which brutally and frankly spoke truth to power in its realisation.

    “Edwin Clark dedicated his life, especially in the last two decades, to further unite and provide courageous leadership with his compatriots for the Ijaw nation through the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and with his other colleagues formed the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) as strategic platforms for identifying and protecting the interests of the multiple South-South ethnic nationalities within the Nigerian Federation.

    He played a leading role in fostering southern Nigeria unity through the most celebrated “handshake-across-the Niger” and the formation of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (MBLF) as a national platform for equity and fairness in national affairs.

    “Edwin Clark did not only lead the SMBLF but also made his Abuja residence available as its secretariat as the venue and veritable voice for true federalism and assurance that no geopolitical zone is short-changed in the access to the leadership of Nigeria.

    The group asked the Clark family, to raise their heads “high for giving to Nigeria a worthy son and to our colleagues in the INC, PANDEF and MBLF, it is time for greater commitment to the cause of a true federal Nigeria where no group is oppressed to which ideals our leaders dedicated their lives. It is not yet uhuru.”

     

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  • Afenifere to Bisi Akande: We can never die

    Afenifere to Bisi Akande: We can never die

    LAGOS — THE pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, tackled former Osun State governor,  Bisi Akande who said the Yoruba group is dead.

    Reacting to Akande’s comments, Afenifere’s National Publicity, Prince Justice Faloye, the Yoruba group is not dead but evolving across generations.

    Recall that Akande, in a recent interview with Edmund Obilo, said that former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, late  Bola Ige, created Afenifere, noting that the assassination of Ige in 2002 saw the death of the Yoruba group.

    Akande had said: “That was the beginning of the crack ( in Afenifere) but the end came with the death of Bola Ige. The death of Bola Ige was the death of Afenifere. He found it and he took it away.”

    When the interviewer said, “But Afenifere is not dead,” Akande said, “I don’t know, but it is not the Afenifere we formed.”

    However, Faloye, in a statement titled ‘Afenifere can never die’, dismissed Akande’s comments insisting that the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, departed from Afenifere’s ideological position.

    The statement reads: “Afenifere is not a human being with limited lifecycles, but a universal philosophical essence of Justice and egalitarianism that must undergo rebirth, to address current generational issues.

    “The concept and political space of Afenifere of ‘Abundance for All’ will always be relevant, especially in democratic dispositions. What we are currently seeing is the ideological shifting of chaff from wheat.

    “Afenifere started 71 years ago but following the coup and military rule, it temporarily became a socio-cultural group since all political agencies are banned under military rule. But once Nigeria returned to democracy in 1979 and 1999, those with social democratic and welfare ideals created political parties to get power in order to fulfil those egalitarian ideals.

    “In 1979, Afenifere created the Unity Party of Nigeria, and in this current disposition, it was instrumental in creating the Alliance for Democratic, AD, Social Democratic Party, SDP.

    “What has been happening in this current disposition can be traced back to Afenifere rebirth in the ‘90s agitation for democracy, when due to political expediencies under General Ibrahim Babaginda (retd), Afenifere was forced to align with various people to avoid banning.

    “Unfortunately, some of the new entrants like Tinubu never shared the Afenifere ideology but joined the ranks in their quest for power, pretending to be progressive welfarists and social democrats. Upon getting to power in 1999, these pseudo-Afenifere began to show their true character and departed from Afenifere ideological position.

    “By 2003, Tinubu as Lagos Governor officially broke ranks with the real Afenifere, which involved some people moving away to form factions that were Afenifere in name but not character. In every election cycle ever since then, those with prebendalistic ambitions join Tinubu which is practising dictatorial neo-liberal economics, instead of social democratic welfare economics according to the name of Afenifere.

    “They deceitfully replaced Afenifere political ideology and identity with a socio-cultural tag of ethnic irredentism to explain away their selfish prebendalism of Awalokan. It is about them and their families converting and sharing our commonwealth, not about empowering and uplifting the common man.

    “However, as some leave, more informed knowledgeable and pro-people younger people are rising to push Afenifere egalitarian ideals as dictated and empowered by Ayo Adebanjo and Oba Oladipo Olaitan.

    “So when the likes of Bisi Akande say Afenifere is dead, he is talking about the passion for the people of

    some in his Prebendalist generation dying, not Afenifere, the ideology and political space. Afenifere is currently evolving and being purified to take control of our manifest destiny to uplift the greatest amount of people ever.

    “Afenifere like the world and universe can’t die but will continue evolving in generational cycles to higher levels of political evolution and existence.

    “Afenifere is by no means dead but evolving across generations. We have the tutelage of elders like Prof Onigbinde,  Shonibare and other notable personalities that grew under the tutelage of the likes of Awolowo, Bola Ige and Baba Adesanya. Afenifere lives on.”