Afenifere Youth Leaders Pass Vote Of No Confidence On Adebanjo

…lambasts him for attacking Tinubu 

…asks him to step down as Afenifere leader

By Rasaq Adebayo

Yoruba Afenifere Youths Organization Of Nigeria (YAYON) has passed vote of no confidence on the Acting Leader of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo for derailing from the objectives and interest of the group.

In a communique jointly signed by Adewale Adeyemo, Secretary, Yoruba Afenifere Youths Organizations of Nigeria; Lekan Wilki, Chairman, Yoruba Youths Alliance; Abiodun Rosanwo, Leader, Yoruba Youth Community Policing; Yinka Adedugbe of Congress of Yoruba Youths; and Raufu Jimoh of Yoruba Youth Movement, the group said it noted that the Acting Leader has been working against Yoruba Presidency won by a Yoruba son, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The communique read in part: “Commendably, all past Afenifere Leaders starting with the revered Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and including Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Chief Abraham Adesanya, all of blessed memory, and the present Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, have sustained this philosophy. Notably, these illustrious Leaders in their exemplary, committed and principled leadership, worked tirelessly to make Afenifere a most influential voice widely respected within and outside the Nigerian Federation, and indeed the arrowhead of all popular struggles to build Nigeria into a better, true and balanced Federation where Justice and equity will prevail for all.

“But we noted sadly that Afenifere began to derail from this long-held philosophy as soon as our father, Baba Ayo Adebanjo took up the position of Acting Leader when he abandoned the uncompromising pursuit and defence first and foremost of the interest of the Yoruba people for whatever reasons.

“We noted sadly too, that rather than rally the Yoruba People behind their son, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, now the President-Elect of Nigeria, to emerge as the President of this Great Country, Baba Adebanjo campaigned vigorously against him, and even after his well deserving and hard earned victory through a credible Presidential Election, he still wants the Presidency out of Yorubaland. Omo eni o se’di bebere, k’a f’ileke si t’omo elomiran.

“We noted for the purpose of clarity, that Pa. Ayo Adebanjo is not the Leader of Afenifere; but the Acting Leader authorised by Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

“We make bold to say that the action of making Pa Adebanjo the Acting National Leader, is in line with the precedence in our rich history.

“For proper understanding of the nexus, we recount that when our revered late Leader, Pa. Abraham Adesanya wanted to delegate power due to his I’ll health, Pa. Dr. Reuben Fasoranti was appointed as Acting Leader. However, the status quo was maintained as the Prescribed Authority remained with Pa. Abraham Adesanya. Meetings and all official Afenifere activities were conducted within and in the home of the Leader as traditionally and historically expected until his passage. Thereafter, Pa. Reuben Fasoranti was made the Substantive Leader of Afenifere.

“Therefore, Pa Dr. Reuben Fasoranti remains the only legally recognised Leader of Afenifere.

“To our dismay, and contrary to tradition and history, we discovered that immediately Pa. Adebanjo took the mantle of leadership as ACTING Leader of Afenifere, he has been projecting himself as the Leader. Not only that, from all notes compared with history, he has not been working in accordance with the solemn sacred order, norms, ethics and virtues of Afenifere.

“We condemn in totality, the gross insubordination of the ACTING Leader of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo.

“For emphasis, we will not allow our future to be mortgaged by Pa. Ayo Adebanjo. We challenge him to provide us with a substantial reason for attacking and maligning our own son, a true son of the soil, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President-Elect of Nigeria, despite the conclusion of a free, fair and credible election devoid of monetisation or rigging, which he won.

“The youths are watching and would wish to see Baba Adebanjo to guide Yoruba Nation appropriately; but we are shocked that Baba is not supporting Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

“As youths, we were wishing that Pa. Adebanjo would be a loving father by accommodating everyone

“But today, we are here to put history in its right place and set a path of honour, not just for us or our children, but for generations yet unborn.

“We noted the wise saying: “Omode gbon, agba gbon, la fi da Ile-Ife”. As youths, we are acting to save our rich history and defend our traditions.

“A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IS HEREBY PASSED on the Acting Leader of Afenifere Pa Ayo Adebanjo forthwith; and that he stops parading as Leader/Acting Leader of Afenifere.

“That he ceases to be in all capacities, the Acting Leader of Afenifere.

“All well-meaning leaders and members of Afenifere should queue behind the National Leader of Afenifere worldwide, Pa. Dr. Reuben Fasoranti, is still alive and his pronouncement on any issue remained final on behalf of Afenifere in general.

“We hereby advise the press to note the right position as regards the leadership of Afenifere, and that there is no debate on who the Leader of Afenifere is. More so, in our history, it has never been heard in Yoruba history that there exist two kings in a palace. Eewo orisa!

“In view of the above, we call for the restructuring of Afenifere and we advise Chief Ayo Adebanjo to kindly step down as the acting Leader of Afenifere in the interest of the organisation and the entire Yoruba Race.
“Yoruba land is our concern.”