Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-political organisation, has downplayed the seriousness of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, visit to immediate past leader of the group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
Speaking when he featured on Arise TV, General Secretary of the Pan-Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere, Olusola Ebiseni, said the Akure visit last week was for Tinubu to seek repentance and not endorsement.
He also said that the fact that Pa Fasoranti prayed for Tinubu did not nullify the endorsement of Peter Obi by the Yoruba apex group because “for those that do not understand the working of Afenifere, once the acting leader is appointed, the leader becomes more or less ceremonial.”
Ebiseni dismissed insinuations that Afenifere was in disarray over its positions on the preferred presidential candidate in the 2023 election, saying: “What is important, however, is that the gathering at Pa Fasoranti’s house was not an Afenifere meeting.
“Those who created Afenifere Renewal Group to frustrate Fasoranti leadership from 2008 to the end of March 2021 and still fighting Ayo Adebanjo were gathered at Fasoranti’s house to worship at his feet and seek for forgiveness for their transgressions against Afenifere and our Leaders.
“They were on a repentance mission, removed their caps and Fasoranti laid his hand on their heads. It wasn’t an Afenifere meeting. Afenifere is an institution of international reputation. It cannot descend so low as to call its meeting through such cheap and anonymous social media platform. Afenifere had nothing to do with it.
“Papa Fasoranti, as a distinguished statesman, is father to all and reserves the power to welcome all including those who now pretend to have turned a new leaf in their war against him and his leadership of Afenifere.”