Afenifere disowns communique condemning Tinubu’s Supreme Court victory
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has disowned a communique that was circulated on social media, which condemned the Supreme Court’s verdict that affirmed the election of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the president of Nigeria.
The communique was purportedly issued by Afenifere General Secretary Sola Ebiseni.
However, in a counter-statement signed by the National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, Otunba Kole Omololu, the organisation said that the communique did not reflect the position of the leader of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, OFR, and other leaders of the apex Yoruba body.
The statement read: “The attention of the Leader of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, OFR and other leaders of the apex Yoruba body has been drawn to a communique purportedly released in the name of Afenifere by the General Secretary, Chief Sola Ebiseni, where Afenifere is said to fault the Supreme Court judgement upholding Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s election as the President of Nigeria. This is far from the truth about Afenifere’s leadership position on the matter.”
The statement further clarified that Chief Fasoranti had congratulated Tinubu on his election and expressed solidarity over his victory at the apex court. It also accused some Labour Party elements within the Afenifere fold of being behind the “unfortunate misadventure” and the “seditious act” of attacking the judiciary.
The statement added: “We are unequivocal in reiterating that Pa Ayo Adebanjo is the Acting Leader, who in the natural and traditional order of Afenifere, is expected to defer to his leader who appointed him, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, OFR without reservations. To do otherwise is to tread such ignoble path in national discourse as this unfortunate release reveals.”
The statement also said that the meeting recently held in Ogbo Ijebu, at no point raised or decided on the issue of the Supreme Court judgment, and challenged Chief Ebiseni to provide the true record of deliberations at the meeting.
The statement concluded: “Afenifere believes that it is time for real governance beyond the politicking that the judiciary has sealed with the Supreme Court judgement. We look forward to good governance from the federal, state and local governments, and are prepared to offer constructive feedback, counsel and criticism in the quest for a better Nigeria, and a prosperous nation with viable federating entities.”
