Leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, said he warned former leader of the group and prominent Yoruba leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, not to get involved in the endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Adebanjo described the meeting of Tinubu and Pa Fasoranti, in Akure, Ondo State, as diversionary.
WITHIN NIGERIA had reported that Tinubu received the blessing of Pa Fasoranti ahead of the 2023 elections at the country home of the Afenifere leader in Akure, Ondo State capital.
Tinubu presented his 80-page manifesto to the nonagenarian with other prominent Yoruba leaders in attendance.
Pa Adebanjo said the “real Afenifere” has made its position known about endorsing the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and that has not changed.
He said the intent was to create a wedge between him and Pa Fasoranti and he was not bothered about it.
The meeting came after Adebanjo endorsed a South-Easterner as the preferred candidate of Afenifere in 2023.
Speaking with Daily Trust, Adebanjo said Fasoranti called him over the phone yesterday and he warned him.
He said, “The Yoruba People know their leader. I’ve spoken, the National Secretary has spoken. This is no the time to engage in polemics. The way forward is my position.
“What happened was a diversion. They want us to be engaged in arguments. Is that the issue now?”
He insisted that in the interest of fairness and justice, it is the turn of the South East to produce the next President.
“Can he (Tinubu) deny it that the South-West has not had its turn? Can he deny it South-South has not had its turn? They should answer that. As far as I am concerned, the meeting does not concern us as Afenifere.
“Afenifere is not divided. That was why I said I don’t want to engage in polemics. They want to throw a wedge between me and Pa Reuben Fasoranti and I won’t allow it. The man phoned me yesterday and I warned him, don’t get yourself involved,” he said.
Adebanjo further stated that those in attendance at the meeting were Yoruba APC chieftains.
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