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Things Fall Apart: Afenifere Foremost Leader, Fasoranti Quits Position Over Internal Wrangling

November 1, 2015

“Considering my age, efforts and selfless dedication to my country, my state [Ondo], my political parties, my past leaders and my members in Afenifere both in Nigeria and in diaspora, I hereby wish to inform you all that I have decided to step aside as leader of our great organization Afenifere,” he said.

The internal crisis rocking the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, deepened on Sunday as one of its foremost leaders Pa Reuben Fasoranti, resigned his position as the chairman the organization.

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Fasoranti, in his resignation letter copied to the Secretary-General Sehinde Arogbofa, and obtained by SaharaReporters correspondent in Akure, Ondo State, expressed disgust at the level of disunity and continuous wrangling among members of the group.

He noted that the goal for the establishment of the Afenifere by its founders was fast eroding due to the disharmony among the members.

“As events have been unfolding in the past few years, the focus and goals of the founding fathers of our great organization 'Afenifere' have gradually eroded.”

Fasoranti explained that considering his age and the dispute among its members, he decided to step aside as the leader of the group.  

“Considering my age, efforts and selfless dedication to my country, my state [Ondo], my political parties, my past leaders and my members in Afenifere both in Nigeria and in diaspora, I hereby wish to inform you all that I have decided to step aside as leader of our great organization Afenifere,” he said.

Fasonranti added that it was a “herculean task” for its members to work in unity to ensure the actualization of the Afenefere goals.

A leader of the group who spoke on the telephone with a SaharaReporters correspondent under the condition of anonymity said the resignation of Pa Fasoranti shows things have gradually fallen apart for the once cherished organization.

“I would only say things are adversely fallen apart for the Afenifere group. We cannot continue to pretend that they (Afenifere) are not divided. The Afenifere of today is different from the one of yesterday. What we now have is a moneybag group masquerading to be the mouthpiece of the Yoruba region,” he said.

Another Afenifere leader told our correspondent that power tussle and financial inducement had always been the reason for discord among members of the organization.

“I am expecting his resignation. I recalled that the last meeting we held in his (Fasoranti) compound he told one of our members that it might be the last that would be held in his house. Although, there had been internal crisis ranging from power tussle and money donated for the group to support some political parties during the last election.”

SaharaReporters correspondent contacted Pa Fasoranti but the elder statesman said he was not willing to talk over his resignation adding that his letter detailed his grouse with the group.

“If you have not gotten a copy of my letter I will direct one of my personal assistant to forward it you because I have poured all my mind in the letter and I have nothing more to say until when further issue arise,” he said.