Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, is at a crossroads. Its popularity is fading in Yoruba land, its supposedly base, stronghold, and main sphere of influence, whose interest it was set up by the founding fathers to articulate and protect, right from the pre-independence days.
The organisation is also facing a crisis of relevance in the country as it has grossly failed to put its house in order. While Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Ohanaeze Ndigbo have managed to weather the storm of division due to their comparatively stronger crisis resolution mechanism, Afenifere has not been that lucky. It has regressed into a bastion of strife and rancour.
The Yoruba group has been bastardised. It has become a toothless regional bulldog that can only bark and cannot bite. Its factional handlers tend to exploit it as a tool for inordinate ambition, inexplicable political negotiation, and other motives that are not connected with the propagation of the Yoruba interest.
Afenifere had a beautiful beginning. The name was coined for the defunct Action Group (AG) in the pre-First Republic by Chief Meredith Adisa Akinloye, who later abandoned the group.
In the time of peace and war, Afenifere did great exploits. The relatively advantageous position of the Southwest in the pre-independence era and the early years of post-independence was due to the wonders of Afenifere government, led by its first leader and Premier of the then Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. That administration was second to none in Africa. It has remained a reference point for many decades.
Afenifere also fought against prolonged military rule. It teamed up with the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) in the agitation for the revalidation of June 12, 1993 presidential election results and the restoration of civil rule.
Also, prominent Afenifere leaders, working in concert with compatriots in other regions, have never relented in their clamour for the resolution of the National Question to foster what they call ‘true’ federalism, peaceful co-existence, and unity in diversity.
However, since the birth of the Fourth Republic, things have fallen apart for the group. Between 1998 and 2003, Afenifere has failed to move beyond the mess it created at D’rovans Hotel in Ibadan when it ignored its time-tested criteria of age, hierarchy, ideology, as well as unblemished service and unalloyed loyalty to the group. It has been roving in a circumlocution since that day it gathered its best patriots to select the Alliance for Democracy (AD) presidential candidate.
Since 2003, the intrigue and acrimony have been sustained. Prominent chieftains have been united in their hate for a chieftain of the organisation, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who won re-election as Lagos governor, despite their opposition, and who also became president amid their virulent blackmail and campaign of calumny against his ambition.
It is ironic that without wide consultation, brainstorming, discussion, and in-depth analysis, the former Acting Leader, the late Chief Ayo Adebanjo, erroneously declared that the organisation would oppose one of its own and support an outsider for president. He tried to use a regional body to accomplish a personal goal without collective permission and consensus.
But the Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, reiterated that Afenifere was backing Tinubu for president, to assuage the situation.
Today, Afenifere is factionalised, despite the efforts by Fasoranti to unite the fold and motivate its members with gerontocratic wisdom to correct its multiple and cumulative mistakes.
The great NADECO leader, Chief Abraham Adesanya, who took the mantle of leadership from Pa Adekunle Ajasin, handed over to Fasoranti as acting leader, an Awoist of long-standing, like Adebanjo. When the Ijebu-Igbo-born Second Republic senator passed on, the group proclaimed Fasoranti as its Leader.
Adesanya had nominated Fasoranti, an Ondo State Finance Commissioner in the Second Republic, as acting leader, based on the advice of younger chieftains who noted that the appointment of either Sir Olaniwun Ajayi or Adebanjo would make it appear that Afenifere leadership was being monopolised by Lagos-based Ijebu Mafia that had dominated the group’s leadership.
Under Fasoranti, the crisis worsened. The climax was the recognition accorded Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa as AD national chairman, instead of Chief Bisi Akande, by some anti-Tinubu chieftains. They also misled Fasoranti to accept that the factional convention in Abuja appeared to have met the party’s guidelines. But the other side kicked. Thus, tension developed momentarily between the two groups led by Fasoranti and Ayo Fasanmi, who coordinated the activities on the side as Deputy Leader in succession to the late Chief Bola Ige. Efforts by the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), led by Olawale Oshun, to reconcile the two groups at Ibadan failed.
Afenifere’s chieftains, particularly those of Ijebu-Igbo Mafia, were jolted out of their reverie when, based on the advice of younger elements, Adesanya asked a chieftain from outside Lagos and Ogun to steer the affairs of the group. But Fasoranti, a reticent leader and unassuming gentleman, later threw in the towel based on some internal contradictions, before he was prevailed upon to rescind the decision.
Fasoranti’s inclusive policy became obvious when he asked Adebanjo to act as the leader but later withdrew the decision when he realised that the organisation was drifting.
The pervading feeling among the mostly dormant and absentee chieftains of Afenifere is that the vibrant and vocal acting leader had often been credited with highly inflammatory utterances that created tension between him and his colleagues as well as rivals in the Awoist family who were electorally lucky and, therefore, perceived to be more successful in their chequered political careers.
Pa Adebanjo was always combative, highly inflexible, and never condescending within the larger fold. He never avoided the use of harsh statements. As the father of all, he never assembled the scattered Yoruba progressive leaders in a bid to bring them under the same Afenifere roof. He never forgave those who may have offended him in the group. He never presided over genuine reconciliation in the larger interest of Afenifere and Yoruba land. Thus, many critics have argued that despite his contributions to the growth of the organisation, Adebanjo, at the twilight of his life, also came across as a divisionist.
Indeed, at no time was Adebanjo the Leader of Afenifere, although some factional members, out of rebellion, decided to hold meetings at his Lagos and Ijebu-Ogbo homes without the permission of the Leader. This was in flagrant violation of the tradition of holding meetings in the house of the Leader, as it was done in Owo in the days of Ajasin and in Ijebu-Igbo in the days of Adesanya.
The appointment of another acting leader without clearance from Fasoranti amounted to a coup. Whenever a king lives, another king cannot be enthroned. There is no leadership vacuum. Any plan for succession, even at this stage, can only be mooted by the Leader or at the general meeting, after uniting the fold and repositioning the organisation for future challenges.
Afenifere now has two secretaries, two directors of organisation, and two publicity secretaries – three officers taking orders from Akure and three factional officers taking briefs from another place. This portrays an awful picture of a distressed regional mouthpiece. It is confusing.
Afenifere’s unauthorised meeting outside Fasoranti’s home is about the grouping of minority members savouring the backing of the media. The views emanating from that corner are not representative of the hopes, feelings, and aspirations of the children of Oduduwa.
All the progressive Yoruba leaders on both sides have paid their dues and served the region and the country in their respective capacities. The question is: why can’t they sheathe their swords and unite?
Afenifere chieftains holding court at Adebanjo’s residence include Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Senator Kofoworola Akerele-Bucknor, Chief Supo Sonibare, Hon. Oladipo Olaitan and Chief Sola Ebiseeni. They are eminent Nigerians in diverse fields.
Those holding court in Akure are Chief Sehinde Arogbofa, Oba Olu Falae, Chief Korede Duyile, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, and Jare Ajayi.
But there is a gap in membership. Is Afenifere complete without the involvement of other chieftains who once grouped under Deputy Leader Ayo Fasanmi when the organisation split? Are Prince Oluyole Olusi, Chief Bisi Akande, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Chief Busura Alebiosu, Dr. Amos Akingba, Gen. Alani Akinrinade, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Ayo Opadokun, Wale Oshun, Dr. Dapo Fafowora, Jimi Agbaje and Prince Dayo Adeyeye no more Afenifere members?
The burial of Adebanjo, nevertheless, can be a meeting point for kick-starting reconciliation. The group’s crisis resolution mechanism should be revived and strengthened. Cracks on the wall of brotherhood should be mended. There is strength in unity. Afenifere also needs reforms.
A divided Afenifere is not in the interest of Yoruba land.
