* Says: Disregard Akure endorsement of Tinubu
A chieftain of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization – Afenifere – Gboyega Adejumo, has set the record straight on the controversy arising from the group’s default endorsement of two presidential candidates for the 2023 general elections.
Adejumo declared that Afenifere is in full support of the Labour Party (LP) presidential standard bearer, Mr. Peter Obi.
He dismissed the endorsement of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the former leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, Ondo State, on October 30, 2022.
Adejumo said that Afenifere, under the leadership of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, remains fully “Obidient”, a coinage for Peter Obi’s supporters.
“Afenifere is fully Obidient. Nothing has changed. What happened in Akure ought not to happen but it is the season… We’ve seen quite a slew of fake endorsements,” Adejumo said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday.
He further said contrary to claims in some quarters, 94-year-old Adebanjo remains the leader of Afenifere and not Fasoranti, stating that the latter handed over to to the former in March last year.
However, a public affairs analyst Biodun Sowunmi, said Fasoranti remains the group’s leader and not Adebanjo.
Sowunmi, who also spoke on the programme on Monday, accused Adebanjo of not carrying Afenifere chieftains like 96-year-old Fasoranti along before he endorsed Obi, a former governor of Anambra State.
The analyst said Afenifere’s candidate is Tinubu, while Obi is Adebanjo’s candidate.
Afenifere has been embroiled in a row since Tinubu’s visit to Fasoranti’s Akure residence last week, where he was anointed by the latter.
Adebanjo, on October 31, said the ongoing argument “is a sort of conspiracy among those who want to see Afenifere divided,” adding that “all we want now is an election on issues.”
Adebanjo also said he would not compromise his cherished principles of justice, equity, and inclusiveness, noting that to keep Nigeria one in 2023, every Nigerian should be “Obi-Datti compliant”.
Obi is running for Aso Rock’s top job alongside Datti Baba-Ahmed.
– Channels TV