The leadership of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has distanced itself from a communiqué released by the group’s General Secretary, Chief Sola Ebiseni, where the organisation was said to have faulted the Supreme Court judgment upholding President Bola Tinubu’s election.
According to a statement on Thursday by the group’s National Organising Secretary, Otunba Kole Omololu, the group’s leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, and other leaders were not aware of Ebiseni’s press release and did not authorise it.
The statement read, “The world will recall that the Leader of Afenifere himself, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, had congratulated the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on his election into office, and also expressed solidarity over his victory at the apex court.
“It is then clearly underhanded and mischievous to have such preposterous attack on the judiciary by intemperate elements within the fold, fanning the embers of national discords with political motives, using the name of Afenifere.”
The statement noted that, as the acting leader of the group, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, in the natural and traditional order of Afenifere, is expected to defer to his leader, who appointed him, Fasoranti, without reservations.
“To do otherwise is to tread such ignoble path in national discourse as this unfortunate release reveals,” the statement added.
The PUNCH reports that the communique being disowned by the group was issued by Ebiseni and made available to journalists in Akure, Ondo State capital, on Wednesday at the end of a meeting of the group held at Adebanjo’s residence in Ogbo Ijebu, Ogun State.
The communique partly read, “Nigeria is a federation of entrenched ethnic nationalities which has failed to evolve into a nation because of the deviation from the foundational principles of federalism.
“Except Nigeria is ruled based on true federalism which guarantees inclusiveness, fairness, egalitarianism, justice and a sense of belonging to all its constituent groups, it will remain a mere geographical expression with no sense of common nationalism and patriotism.
“In this connection, the only way forward is to change the military constitution now and re-enact a constitution in line with the foundational federal principles.
“Except this is done now and quickly, all the errors that occasioned the type of electoral shenanigans witnessed during the 2023 general elections and the technical judgement by the Supreme Court legitimising the same will fester ad infitum.”