The Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu, has declared that the Afenifere is not speaking for the entire Yoruba race with it’s endorsement of the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Akeredolu bared his mind about the stance of the Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group while speaking on the topic, “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Business of Nation Building”, during a Twitter Space session.
According to him, “Afenifere doesn’t speak for the Yoruba people on the endorsement of the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi. ” Afenifere is divided in respect of the purported endorsement and the group’s views do not represent the stance of the Yoruba people.
He said that Tinubu has always remained progressive despite the prevalence of political prostitution in the country. “Asiwaju has deep knowledge about the problems of this nation. He has been part of the struggle to ensure that democracy is enthroned and that a true federal system runs in the country,”
The Director of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga for APC also noted that the Acting Leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo’s position on 2023 polls is not the collective decision of the organisation, All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council said on Saturday.
He said that Afenifere Leader Chief Reuben Fasoranti and other eminent chieftains never adopted the Labour Party(LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
In a statement , Onanuga said:”Papa Ayo Adebanjo does not speak for Afenifere. He is free as an individual to support anyone he likes, in furtherance of his democratic right.
He added:”We respect the age of Baba Adebanjo, but he can not turn Afenifere into his personal franchise for any political alliance.
“We are very much aware that Baba Reuben Fasoranti, the real leader of Afenifere,had stated clearly that Pa Adebanjo has always been speaking for himself on many national issues using the name of the group.
“It is our well considered position that Pa Adebanjo cannot appropriate Afenifere. Baba is just an individual who is free to support any politician of his choice. As an individual, he cannot equate himself with the socio-cultural and socio-political organisation.”