The National leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, on Wednesday, expressed worries about the degenerating situation in the foremost Yoruba group, saying this is not Afenifere of my dream when I stepped aside.
Fasoranti who stated this during a meeting of the group held at his residence in Akure, Ondo State capital, noted that the group’s core values of consultation, brotherliness and camaraderie had been threatened following the noticeable leadership drift within the group.
He regretted that the cordial and friendly relationship that existed among the members of the group was threatened, and called for urgent restoration to put the foremost Yoruba group to its vantage position, by setting up a reconciliation committee to return unity to the group.
Fasoranti said “Since I appointed my brother, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Oba Oladipo Olaitan as acting leader and deputy leader respectively about three years ago, a lot has happened.
“A noticeable drift away from our core values of consultation, brotherliness and camaraderie and traditional process of conducting the business of the organisation, upon which our collegial system of leadership is based, has been severely threatened.
“This threat has been further exacerbated by more recent events, culminating in a fracture of the traditional backbone of the organisation.
“I am sorry to say, without mincing words, that our organisation is in a sorry state and requires urgent restoration effort to steer it away from the current trajectory.
“This wasn’t my vision or expectation
when I appointed the acting leader and deputy leader. And to say that I am sad and disappointed at the turn of events is an understatement.
“I am particularly disturbed because unless we take urgent remedial action, the future looks very bleak and the necessary resources to revamp our organisation are being depleted by the day.
I have called you here today, therefore, as leaders and responsible members of this organisation, to challenge yourself to find a lasting solution to the current impasse.
“I implore you to engage frankly and honestly in the spirit of comradeship and mutual respect for which we are well known and upon which this organisation is founded. With determination and commitment, I believe you are all able to find a solution that will propel Afenifere to greater heights”
Fasoranti, however, said “to facilitate the bridging of the gap which has become apparent among us in the centre, I
have asked Kabiyesi the Olu of Ilu Abo, Oba Olu Falae though retired from Politics and has become inactive as one of our leaders in recent times to come and preside at this meeting.
“I hope you will all cooperate with him in finding a way forward for the organisation. To keep Afenifere one is a task that must be achieved by us all.”
However, members of the group at the end of the meeting unanimously agreed to set up a reconciliation committee to achieve unity in the group.
The communique signed by the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi read: “Afenifere is to be reinvigorated to be stronger and be able to continue to fulfil its mandate of being the Vanguard for the Yoruba Race.
“To achieve this, a Committee is to be set up to achieve Reconciliation and Unity. Afenifere is an Ideological Movement. It is not a Political Party.
“Deviation from the basic principles of Afenifere has been responsible for the undesirable turn of events in the last two years. Arising from the above, Afenifere is to be brought back to its core values and tradition.
The group also advised the Federal Government about the census coming up next year, urging the government to employ the biometric method, saying as successfully used for voter card registration
“As such, Afenifere strongly call the Federal Government to make the National Population Commission use the same Biometric Method rather than the manual method that is prone to abuse as had happened several times in the past”
Present at the meeting include, former Secretary to Government of the Federation SGF, Oba Olu Falae, former Ondo state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, former Osun state deputy governor, lyiola Omisore, former Secretary General of Afenifere, Basorun Sehinde Arogbofa, Abagun Kole Omololu, Mr Dare Babarinsa amongst other Yoruba leaders.
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