Fasoranti Debunks Rumour, Says Adebanjo Still Afenifere’s Leader

Reuben Fasoranti, the head of the pan-Yoruba socio-political party Afenifere, claims that he was misrepresented in the media over the dispute between himself and the group’s acting leader, Ayo Adebanjo.

Adebanjo’s status as the group’s acting head, according to Fasoranti, was never interrupted.

In a statement sent on Thursday through his personal assistant in Akure, Mr. Adedapo Abiola, Fasoranti said that some of the media’s reporting on the subject was inaccurate.

The statement read, “It has come to Papa Reuben Fasonranti’s knowledge that some sections of the media, especially the social media, have been ascribing to him false statements designed to cause confusion and polarise Afenifere.

“I have Papa’s permission to say that he has not said Chief Ayo Adebanjo is no longer the acting leader of Afenifere nor that all future Afenifere meetings should henceforth be held at his residence in Akure.

“Papa’s main concern is the interest of the Yoruba in the complex political situation in Nigeria. It is also his concern that Afenifere should survive in dignity and remain a purveyor of the interest of the Yoruba race.

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Recall there was rumored that the conflict engulfing the Yoruba socio-political organization Afenifere has intensified as its two top leaders, Pa Reuben Fasoranti and Pa Ayo Adebanjo, disagreed over the group’s leadership position and support for presidential contenders.

Although, the group’s leaders had differing viewpoints on how to proceed in the current political climate, their dispute stayed hidden until Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, recently paid a visit to the group’s leaders in Akure, Ondo State.

Long before the visit, Adebanjo and a portion of the group supported Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s candidate for president, in September, basing their backing on the requirement that the South-East geopolitical zone produce its first president after other zones had their turn.

Adebanjo was not present at the Akure summit, but the leaders supported and mobilized for Tinubu.