The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has derailed from the philosophy and the ideals of its founding fathers, with most of its members now fraternising with strange bedfellows. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN, who has been following this development, reports.
The socio-cultural and political group was formed by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo as a rallying point for the Yoruba people, Afenifere, appears to have deviated from the ideals of its founding fathers. In its heydays, it used to be a powerful pressure group that was used to advance the interests of the Yoruba within the Nigerian federation.
The group probably reached the apogee of its popularity under the leadership of the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Senator Abraham Adesanya, when it waged war against the country’s military rulers. In the process, its leaders were molested, unjustly detained and exiled by the military. Yet, they stood their ground. For instance, the late Adesanya narrowly escaped assassination during the struggle.
Today, the leadership of Afenifere seems to have derailed, because it has departed from the philosophy and ideals of its founding fathers. Unlike in the past, the present day leaders are after personal benefits. Observers believe that they are now wining and dining with elements and groups ideologically opposed to the group’s guiding philosophy.
The period before the restoration of civil rule in 1999 is believed to be the turning point for the group. The leaders of the group found themselves at a crossroads and were locked in a protracted battle. They were confronted by two crises. On the one hand, the deputy leader of the group, the late Chief Bola Ige, parted ways with his colleagues, because they rejected him and voted for Chief Olu Falae during the Alliance for Democracy (AD) presidential primary. Ige went ahead to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, without consulting with members of the group. The issue left an indelible mark in the history of the socio-political organisation, because it was not resolved; Ige died while serving in Obasanjo’s cabinet.
The second crisis was the parting of ways of the late Chief Ganiyu Dawodu and Senator Bola Tinubu. Efforts to pacify and reconcile the two AD chieftains through the proposed 60:40 formula recommended by a panel headed by the late Sir Olaniwun Ajayi failed. Dawodu was bitter. He left the AD for another political party, the Progressives Action Coalition (PAC). On the eve of the 2003 governorship election, he directed his supporters to vote for the PDP candidate, the late Funso Williams.
Since then, there has been a clash of ego and interests in Yoruba politics. When Ige died, his camp became divided. Two disciples of Ige — Chief Bisi Akande and Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa — decided to contest the AD chairmanship. Those opposed to Ige in Afenifere, such as Tinubu, Cornelius Adebayo and the late Lam Adesina endorsed Akande for the position. That was how the AD became factionalised. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was in dilemma as to which faction to recognise. The former Afenifere leader, Adesanya, could not resolve the imbroglio before his demise.
Following the death of Adesanya, a succession crisis broke out. The organisation split into two, following the declaration by its interim leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti that Akinfenwa and not Akande was the AD national chairman. A good number of its chieftains were not in agreement with Fasoranti’s position. They include: Akande, Olusegun Osoba, Tinubu, Senator Biyi Durojaiye, Oba Olatunji Hamzat, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, the late Lam Adesina and Chief Michael Koleoso.
Fasoranti, a Second Republic Commissioner for Finance in Ondo State was later proclaimed as the leader of Afenifere by his faction. Key members of the Fasoranti’s group include: Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Bashorun Sehinde Arogbofa, Chief Korede Duyile, Dr Fredrick Fasehun, Senator Akinfenwa and Chief Olu Falae.
How Afenifere derailed
Between 2003 and now, Afenifere has been in the political wilderness. While the group supported the second term ambition of five AD governors in the Southwest, it worked against that of Tinubu. But, ironically, the five governors were defeated by the PDP in the 2003 elections. Tinubu survived. In 2007, Afenifere floated another party, the Democratic Peoples’ Alliance (DPA). The party failed woefully, because the old Afenifere warriors lacked the mobilisation prowess.
In 2012, Afenifere struck a deal with the Ondo State Chapter of Labour Party (LP) to spite its members in the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Despite the fact that it had become public knowledge that the LP was an extension of the PDP, the Fasoranti group endorsed the LP for that year’s governorship.
Besides, it is also evident that the Afenifere is fraternising with elements and groups clearly opposed to its ideological orientation. For instance, apart from welcoming into its fold controversial PDP members like Chief Bode George and Senator Iyiola Omisore, the Afenifere has become the unofficial opposition to the Buhari administration.
Many observers are yet to come to terms with the ignoble role played by the leaders of the group towards the 2015 general elections. What baffled them was how the group changed its perception of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, which it earlier described as anti-Yoruba. For instance, Falae was loud and clear in accusing Jonathan of marginalising the Yoruba in the constitution of his cabinet. He specifically alleged that Jonathan failed to appoint a Yoruba into topmost positions like the Senate Presidency, House of Representatives Speakership, Chief Justice of the Federation, Deputy Senate President, the Court of Appeal President, ministers in strategic ministries and Secretary to Government of the Federation. Falae noted that the absence of a Yoruba in power hierarchy had adversely affected the Southwest zone.
Another Afenifere chieftain, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, was very critical of the Jonathan administration on the same ground that it marginalised the Yoruba. He said: “We (Yoruba leaders) had met with Jonathan to complain about the marginalisation of the Yoruba, but he has not done anything about it.”
In spite of all complaints about the exclusion of the Yoruba in the Jonathan government, nothing changed. However, Okunrounmu was appointed the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, probably to court the Afenifere and secure their approval and support for the 2014 National Conference.
Ironically, Afenifere leaders have not recognised or acknowledged the gains of the Yoruba under the Buhari administration. Unlike the Jonathan era, the Yoruba people are holding key positions in the government. They include: the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Mr Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing; Mrs Kemi Adeosun (Finance); Professor Isaac Adewole (Health); Dr Kayode Fayemi (Solid Minerals) and Alhaji Adebayo Shittu (Communication).
Rather than appreciate and commend the Buhari administration’s gesture, the Afenifere has not relented in its open confrontation against the government. At a stage, Fasoranti condemned Buhari, describing his administration as a dictatorship and a one-man show. The Afenifere leader has also castigated Buhari for making the war against corruption the only agenda of his government.
The division within the Afenifere came to open after it endorsed Jonathan’s second term bid. Members with dissenting opinion dissociated themselves from the endorsement. They accused the leadership of taking a unilateral decision, which they said contradicted with the position taken at a previous meeting. A member who spoke in confidence said: “That was not what we agreed at our meeting. We held a meeting and agreed that we should not mention anybody’s name among the presidential candidates. We agreed we should only talk about what each candidate stands for and direct our people to vote for anyone that has approximated our position.
“In the communiqué, we issued, we agreed to support any candidate who has demonstrated commitment to the implementation of the National Conference Report, who will ensure devolution power and reduce the cost of governance. Did Jonathan who was endorsed by a faction of Afenifere make any attempt to meet the three conditions? No. The National Conference Report was submitted to him eight months before the end of his tenure; he failed to forward it to the National Assembly for approval and its incorporation into the Constitution. Jonathan was president for five years; he did not make any move to reduce the powers and functions of the Federal Government. Under Jonathan, the Presidency was bloated. There were many political appointees without offices and responsibilities.
“An indication that the Afenifere has derailed was contained in the letter of resignation tendered by its leader, Chief Fasoranti, even though it was withdrawn weeks later. In the letter, Fasoranti noted that the group was formed to serve as an umbrella to be used to actualise the dream of a great nation and the Yoruba race.
“As events have been unfolding in the past few years, the focus and goals of the founding fathers of our great organisation, the Afenifere, were gradually eroded. Several efforts were made to ensure actualisation of the Afenifere goals, but it appeared that we have not succeeded in achieving this.”
With such revelation from Fasoranti, it is crystal clear that Afenifere has lost focus. The group has suffered many contradictions under the leadership of Fasoranti. Several of its members have left and found new voices in different organisations and political parties.
Is reconciliation feasible?
The younger elements led by Mr Wale Oshun, a Third Republic House of Representatives Chief Whip, formed the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) and tried in vain to reconcile the two factions led by Fasoranti and Fasanmi. The ARG members include Dr Kayode Fayemi, Mr Ayo Afolabi, Mr Segun Odegbami, Mrs Toke Benson and Mr Kunle Famoriyo.
The ARG leader, Oshun, said the dispute among the Afenifere leaders manifested in the subversion of the AD. He said some Afenifere leaders declared support for Obasanjo’s second term, adding that the former president supported Akinfenwa for the AD chairmanship.
Oshun explained efforts made by the ARG to reconcile the two factions of Afenifere thus: “Three years after the 2003 election, we young elements — myself, Ayo Afolabi, Kunle Famoriyo, Yinka Odumakin, Kayode Fayemi, Jimi Agbaje and Dr Adeniji — started meeting and came to the conclusion that we should not allow the dichotomy to continue. We organised a reconciliation meeting at the IITA, Ibadan. Both sides were fully represented. I could remember Akande, Falae, Adebanjo and Niyi Adebayo were present at the meeting. They agreed to sink their differences and work together as a group. Few weeks after, Adebanjo in a press interview lambasted the former governors over the the Afenifere crisis. Thus, the reconciliation floundered again. It was at that point that we younger elements met and decided to float the ARG in isolation of both the Afenifere leaders and the former governors.”
Analysts say reconciliation may still be a long way off. They recalled the spirited peace moves by the late Justice Kayode Eso, Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu and Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi to reconcile the two factions also hit the rock. The analysts believe the obstacle to reconciliation now is the conflict of political interest; the reality is that despite the fact that leaders on both sides are committed to Yoruba interest, they are now adopting antagonistic approaches.
