Given the swirl of apprehension ahead of the 2023 general elections, Afenifere scribe, Ayo Adebanjo’s public anointing of Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP) in September added an interesting twist to the presidential race.
The aggrieved Afenifere chieftain publicly declared support for Labour Party’s hinging his support on the need for the South-East geopolitical zone to produce its first president after other zones had had their turn.
A deeper analysis reveals a more nuanced struggle around issues of collective direction. Hence the declaration attracted knocks and criticism for Adebanjo, who was said to have not widely consulted Fasoranti and other Yoruba leaders before endorsing Obi.
Adebanjo’s endorsement of Obi attracted riposte from the southwest intelligentsia.
To some political pundits, Adebanjo’s endorsement of Obi seemed a reckless initiative.
What happens if Adebanjo’s dream of an Igbo presidency is not realized with Obi in 2023, just as restructuring did not happen with Jonathan in 2014? Many are indeed not surprised by his political stance and antecedents over time.
However, in a recent development, Afenifere’s national leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti publicly anointed the presidential flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at his home and in the presence of several southwest leaders.
The public anointing of Tinubu by the leader of the foremost Yoruba socio-cultural group undoubtedly unsettled Adebanjo. It took place in an expansive gathering of heavyweight politicians and leaders in the southwest region, who convened to lend their support to Tinubu’s presidential ambition with Pa Fasoranti’s blessing. ously received and celebrated at the country home of Fasoranti by the newly sworn-in Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji; Deputy governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Deputy governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae; former Ogun state governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
Read Also: Pa Adebanjo: Why is Tinubu different, sir?
Others include; the Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye; a former Minister of State for Niger Delta, Chief Tayo Alasoadura and a former Governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, among other Afenifere leaders from Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Lagos, Kogi, and Kwara States were also in attendance.
Since his emergence as the party’s standard bearer, Tinubu has continually asserted that he is capable of leading the country citing his antecedents as an unrepentant democrat and progressive statesman.
The Akure endorsement of Tinubu by Fasoranti was no doubt a symbolic and strong political statement. Fasoranti, a frontline educationist and second republic finance Commissioner in Ondo State was delighted to receive Tinubu in the charged atmosphere of his abode. At the gathering, the rendition of Afenifere’s anthem elicited feelings of nostalgia on the faces of those in attendance.
Fasoranti had his two palms firmly placed on Tinubu’s clean-shaven head and wished him success in his presidential race to Aso Rock. The 96-year-old elder statesman who briefly prayed for the APC candidate, simply declared, “Tinubu will win the election.”
The Afenifere leader’s action effectively laid to rest needless controversies over his group’s disposition to Tinubu’s candidacy.
A statement issued, later, by the National Organising Secretary, Abagun Kole Omololu, described a Tinubu presidency as one that would “usher in a new era of hope, peace, security, harmony, gainful employment for the multitude, economic development, social and political stability.”
The Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Adebayo Lawal, who was at the meeting said his principal, Governor Seyi Makinde, supported Afenifere leaders on their preferred choice of presidential candidate for the 2023 elections. Lawal, who represented Makinde at the meeting, said the Oyo governor has always been in support of the decisions taken by Afenifere thus hinting at an alignment of certain opposition figures in support of Tinubu’s candidacy.