There was never a crisis in Afenifere –Adebanjo

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A chieftain of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has said at no time was the group enmeshed in a crisis.

He stated that nothing was wrong in the leader of the group, Chief Reuben Fasoranti’s earlier decision to step aside before rescinding his resolution.

Adebanjo, who spoke with one of our correspondents on the telephone on Sunday said, ‘‘There were never cracks in Afenifere, if Chief Reuben Fasoranti’s earlier decision to step aside as the group’s leader made some people to think so, it is the younger Yoruba that I feel sorry for. I have done my own part. Sir. Olaniwun Ajayi has done his best too.

“All what we do in Afenifere is in the interest of the Yoruba. Leaders of groups from the eastern and northern parts of the country have called me to say they were happy with the way we handled the issue. But it is only the Yoruba that are interested in seeing the end of Afenifere. What do they stand to gain in the splitting of the group?’’

He noted that the Yoruba should know that their solidarity was very important because ‘‘they are the only group that stands on issues.’’

Adebanjo added, ‘‘Some people kept saying that Afenifere has deviated from the ideals of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. What ideals of Awolowo has Afenifere deviated from? Is it the policy of free health care, full employment, good governance and so on?’’

When asked why the Afenifere Renewal Group emerged as a splinter group if there were never cracks in Afenifere, Adebanjo said those who left to form ARG were rebels.

He added, ‘‘They are rebels. They want to be leaders.’’

Last week, Fasoranti’s resignation letter was rejected by the leaders of the group, who begged the octogenarian to rescind his decision and continue to lead the organisation.

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of Afenifere, Chief Sehinde Arogbofa, has urged Nigerians to support and cooperate with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in his effort to tackle corruption.

Arogbofa, who is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State, also stressed the need for the President to implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference, saying that doing so was the only way to move the nation forward.

He stated this at the 16th Founder’s Day lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, which was titled, “Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin and his Dream of an Incorruptible Society: The Man and His Mantra.”

He said for the sake of fair play and justice, the President must not ignore the 2014 National Confab Report, saying, “Therein, that is, one way or the other, lie the solutions and answers to most of our problems as a nation.”

He said, “So far, the President has been saying it loud and clear, wherever he goes either in the country or outside the country like he was recently in Delhi, that he would fight corruption to a standstill. Good. But he should not be pre-occupied with fighting economic corruption alone; he must throw his searchlight on moral corruption and come up with a moral rearmament programme to make his crusade on economic revolution take root and succeed.

“Our economy has been ruined by corruption. Unemployment and nepotism are cankerworms destroying the fabric of the society and are twin sisters of corruption. President Buhari must confront them headlong and set a template for fair play and justice in resolving them. Here again, Nigerians should support him, for he must not fail.”

The guest lecturer added, “Corruption and nepotism will be reduced if we run a true federal system of government that we have all along been asking for since independence. President Buhari must give it a chance.”

The literary icon urged top government functionaries and employers of labour to imbibe the legacy of Ajasin to achieve the nation’s needed transformation.

In his opening address, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, said the life of the late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, the first Executive Governor of Ondo State, personified integrity, vision, transparency, patriotism and accountability, all qualified him for the university to have been named after him.

Source: Punch