Adeyeye, Pa Adebanjo split on Afenifere candidate for 2023 Presidency

While leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, the Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo has continued to advance his group’s unhinged support for the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Dr Peter Obi, the National Chairman, South West Agenda for Asiwaju 2023 (SWAGA), Sen. Dayo Adeyeye, has claimed that the region’s advocacy platform remains undivided over its support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), standard bearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, adding further that; “Ninety-nine per cent of the Afeniferes are behind Tinubu.”

According to Senator Adeyeye, who disclosed this, Thursday, in Abuja, Asiwaju Tinubu’s candidacy enjoys massive support of majority of Afenifere members in spite of contrary insinuations in some quarters.

Adeyeye’s position, however, comes in sharp contrast with that of leader of the organisation, Pa Adebanjo, who only earlier in the week restated his support for the Labour Party candidate.

Rising from a meeting convened at his residence with Dr Obi and some Labour Party chieftains in attendance, along with leaders of other regional socio-political groups, under the aegis of the Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum (SMBLF), Pa Adebanjo pledged his support for Obi and his candidacy, even as he had also insisted on the turn of the South East region to produce the next president of the country in 2023.

“I have respect for Adebanjo. He is my leader in Afenifere. As of today, the leader of Afenifere, for clarity is Reuben Fasoranti.

“There is no faction in Afenifere. What Fasoranti has merely done was that since he is advanced in age, he appointed someone to act on his behalf in the interim and that person is Ayo Adebanjo.

“If a decision is going to be taken by Afenifere, it is not a one-man show.

“What I read in the papers was a personal decision of Adebanjo and not the opinion of Afenifere,” he said.

“Whatever Adebanjo said was not a statement issued at the end of a meeting of the organisation, it was his personal decision.

“It is not a fact that Afenifere is divided or there is factionalisation.

“Ninety-nine per cent of the Afeniferes are behind Tinubu,” he said.

The politician further said that the 2023 general elections would be very interesting.

“I expect this to be perhaps the most competitive election and one that will be watched more keenly throughout the world because Nigeria is at a crossroad and we must get it right.

“I believe we have that candidate who can turn things around for good for Nigeria,” he said.

On a possible run-off for Tinubu, Adeyeye said that it won’t be possible.

“I do not see a possible run-off because the bar for you to be declared elected as president is not too high as we have it in some other nations of the world.

“In Nigeria, what you need is to have the majority of the votes and one quarter of the votes in two thirds of the states.

“I think that is easier to secure. We have the network,” the chairman said.

It would be recalled that details of last Tuesday’s meeting between Obi, with leaders of southern and Middle Belt socio-political advocacy groups, emerged.

Dr Obi had initially announced his verified Twitter handle (@PeterObi) on being at the meeting with some leaders and members of the South and Middle Belt Leadership Forum, as well as National leaders of Labour Party and other stakeholders at the residence of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, but did not disclose the purpose or outcome of the gathering. 

“Presently visiting PA Ayo Adebanjo and members of the South and Middle Belt Leadership Forum. The National leaders of Labour Party and other stakeholders are here too. –PO” read the post on Obi’s handle.

However, Chief Adebanjo has revealed that the meeting which held in his home demanded Obi to prioritise restructuring in exchange for their support.

The leader of the pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group, Afenifere, revealed that the meeting had in attendance top leaders of SMBLF including Edwin Clark of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Dru Bitrus of the Middle Belt Forum, and George Obiozor of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

“He (Obi) came to meet Southern and Middlebelt leaders in my house. It was an exchange of views; we believe in the same cause,” he said, adding that they won’t back any candidate that does not support restructuring.

“We are all partners in progress. The fight he is fighting is a fight for the oppressed.

“Restructuring was at the front burner; we should have a country first before we have any development plan. That is the pillar on which the Southern and Middlebelt leaders stand.

“Constitutional review, community policing, devolution of power and others are all embedded in restructuring. Where we have a constitution where everybody is dissatisfied, you won’t have peace and without peace, there will be no stability. These are fundamental,” Pa Adebanjo said.

Also, earlier last month, in July, Pa Adebanjo while featuring as guest on an online radio show, Yoruba Gbode, Tuesday, July 12, described Dr Obi as having the ‘ability to rule independently and would not disappoint Nigerians.’

Adebanjo who also disclosed that he has since lost confidence in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said Obi can rule the country ‘without influence of these criminals in the government. Tinubu will only give continuity to Buhari’s incompetence.’

 It is only Peter Obi that can rule independently without the influence of these criminals in the government. Tinubu will only give continuity to Buhari’s incompetence.

“We know Peter Obi very well, that’s why we endorsed him. He will not disappoint Nigerians, let’s put tribal differences apart and vote the right leader in.

“Tinubu sold Buhari to over 200 million Nigerians for his own selfish interest of wanting to rule after Buhari. None of them loves Nigeria,” the Afenifere leader said.

According to him, the South East region should be trusted with power, adding that the geopolitical zone deserves to lead the country.

“Easterners are also Nigerians, they deserve to rule. I am sure Peter Obi will not subject himself to the northerners like Tinubu and Atiku would do if elected,” he added.