Afenifere youths slam Pa Adebanjo over factionalisation, call for his removal

The Yoruba Afenifere Youths Organization of Nigeria (YAYON) has called for a reform of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization Afenifere.

Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the Interim Leader of Afenifere, received a vote of no confidence from the organization’s youth wing, which also requested that he resign in the organization’s and the Yoruba people’s best interests.

The Yoruba Afenifere Youths Organisation of Nigeria (YAYON) made their demands known on Tuesday during the South-West Youth Leaders world press conference held in Lagos following a joint meeting of Afenifere Youth National leaders in Yoruba territory, including Kogi and Kwara states.

During the press conference, the National Youth Leader of the Yoruba Afenifere Youths Organizations of Nigeria, Comrade Eric Oluwole, read a statement on behalf of the various Yoruba youth organizations, denouncing the suspension of two national officers of Afenifere by Chief Adebanjo without the group’s leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti.

The Yoruba youths urged Chief Adebanjo to resign as the acting head of the most important Yoruba socio-cultural organization because they claimed he had strayed from the principles and ideals of Afenifere.

Thus, they exhorted all well-intentioned Afenifere leaders and members to follow the organization’s leadership, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, who is still alive, stressing that his decision on any matter remained final on behalf of Afenifere.

“Afenifere was formed 72 years ago as an influential socio-cultural group and voice to lawfully defend and promote first and foremost, the interest of the Yoruba people within the Nigerian Federation. Commendably, all past Afenifere Leaders starting with the revered Chief Obafemi Awolowo, including Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Chief Abraham Adesanya, all of the blessed memory, and the present leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, have sustained this philosophy.

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“Notably, these illustrious leaders in their exemplary, committed and principled leadership, worked tirelessly to make Afenifere a most influential voice widely respected within and outside the Nigerian Federation, and indeed the arrowhead of all popular struggles to build Nigeria into a better, true and balance Federation, where justice and equity will prevail for all.

“But we noted sadly that Afenifere began to derail from this long-head philosophy as soon as our father, Baba Ayo Adebanjo took up the position of Acting Leader when he abandoned the uncompromising pursuit and defence first and foremost of the interest of the Yoruba people for whatever reasons.

“We noted sadly too, that rather than rally the Yoruba people behind their son, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, now the President-Elect of Nigeria, to emerge as President of this Great Country, Baba Adebanjo campaigned vigorously against him, and even after his well-deserving and hard-earned victory through a credible presidential election, he still wants the presidency out of Yorubaland.

“We noted for the purpose of clarity that Pa Ayo Adebanjo is not the Leader of Afenifere, but the Acting Leader authorised by Pa Reuben Fasoranti. We make bold to say that the action of making Pa Adebanjo the Acting Leader is in line with the precedence in our rich history.

“We will not allow our future to be mortgaged by Pa Ayo Adebanjo. We challenge him to provide us with the substantial reason for attacking and maligning our son of the soil, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President-Elect of Nigeria, despite the conclusion of a free, fair, and credible election devoid of monetisation or rigging, which he won.

“We condemned in totality the gross insubordination of the Acting Leader of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo. A Vote of no Confidence is hereby passed on the Acting Leader of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo forthwith and he should stop parading himself as Leader/Acting Leader of Afenifere.”

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