There seems to be a fraction in Afenifere after some of its leaders publicly endorsed Bola Tinubu on Sunday.
The leader of the Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo has accused the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu of bribing some people to create the impression that there is conflict in Afenifere.
There seems to be a fraction in Afenifere after some of its leaders publicly endorsed Bola Tinubu on Sunday.
Meanwhile, on behalf of the organization, Adebanjo had endorsed the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, insisting that the South-East should produce the next President for the sake of fairness.
No Igbo or southeasterner has been President of Nigeria since the current democratic dispensation which started in 1999.
Tinubu, who met the group's national chairman, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, and other leaders in Akure, Ondo State, submitted an 80-page Action Plan paper outlining how he wants to address the country's economic challenges and other concerns.
During the visit, Fasoranti stated that Tinubu previously requested his blessings in April, but that he had advised him to first obtain the party's ticket before asking for his blessings.
Reacting to this development, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, in a tweet on Monday, said he would not entertain those who support Tinubu’s candidacy because he had thrown his weight behind Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Obi.
“Tinubu bribed some people with little money to put up a show that there’s a division in Afenifere. I won’t engage him and those he gave money to because we have already made our position clear that Peter Obi is our candidate,” he tweeted.
Similarly, the spokesman for the Obi-Datti Campaign, Dele Farotimi described Tinubu’s Afenifere endorsement as bogus.
He said, “A man that would organize fake clerics and bishops in furtherance of a fraudulent enterprise, is not likely to have too many scruples with staging a bogus Afenifere endorsement.”
“Baba Fasoranti WAS our Leader. He resigned on account of his advanced age and frail health. Chief Adebanjo IS our Leader, and Tinubu is well aware. Tinubu is within his right to go and visit Baba Fasoranti, that’s Yoruba culture of respect, but we know WHO SPEAKS for Afenifere,” he added.
SaharaReporters also reported in September that the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement said Pa Adebanjo could not impose his personal preference and opinion on Afenifere.
The Tinubu council stressed that the elder statesman was free to endorse anyone he wanted under a democratic dispensation and that such a viewpoint could not be imposed on the people.
He alleged Adebanjo had recently converted Afenifere into a pop personal estate.
A man that would organize fake clerics and bishops in furtherance of a fraudulent enterprise, is not likely to have too many scruples with staging a bogus Afenifere endorsement..😏#Enikure!🖐🏿🤬
— Dele Farotimi #Enikure!🖐🏿🤬 (@DeleFarotimi) October 31, 2022
Baba Fasoranti WAS our Leader. He resigned on account of his advanced age and frail health. Chief Adebanjo IS our Leader, and Tinubu is well aware. Tinubu is within his right to go and visit Baba Fasoranti, that’s Yoruba culture of respect, but we know WHO SPEAKS for Afenifere 😊 https://t.co/R97Ge0l1dT
— Dele Farotimi #Enikure!🖐🏿🤬 (@DeleFarotimi) October 30, 2022