Afenifere Leader Ayo Adebanjo Blasts Tinubu Says "Peter Obi Is Our Candidate"

Afenifere leader Ayo Adebanjo is alleging that Bola Ahmed Tinubu bribed some people with little money to put up a show for him to be endorsed and create a division within the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group.

The Afenifere leader Ayo Adebanjo taking to his official social media handle on Monday 31st October 2022, while reacting to the alleged endorsement of the presidential candidate of the ruling party of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming presidential election, stated that Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour party (LP) whom they have earlier endorsed to promote equity and justice, is still Afenifere’s preferred candidate for the 2023 presidential election.

He said:

“Tinubu bribed some people with little money to put up a show that there’s a division in Afenifere. I won’t engage him and those he gave money to because we have already made our position clear that Peter Obi is our candidate,” he alleges.

He said the “real Afenifere” has made its position known about endorsing the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, and that has not changed.

According to the report by Daily Trust, Pa Adebanjo in a telephone chat with the popular tabloid, said the intent was to create a wedge between him and Pa Fasoranti and he was not bothered about it.

 Afenifere leader Ayo Adebanjo said Fasoranti called him over the phone yesterday and he warned him.

He said, “The Yoruba People know their leader. I’ve spoken, the National Secretary has spoken. This is no the time to engage in polemics. The way forward is my position.

“What happened was a diversion. They want us to be engaged in arguments. Is that the issue now?”

He insisted that in the interest of fairness and justice, it is the turn of the South East to produce the next President.

“Can he (Tinubu) deny it that the South-West has not had its turn? Can he deny it South-South has not had its turn? They should answer that. As far as I am concerned, the meeting does not concern us as Afenifere.

“Afenifere is not divided. That was why I said I don’t want to engage in polemics. They want to throw a wedge between me and Pa Reuben Fasoranti and I won’t allow it. The man phoned me yesterday and I warned him, don’t get yourself involved,” he said.

Adebanjo further stated that those in attendance at the meeting were Yoruba APC chieftains.

The statement by Pa Ayo Adebanjo comes barely 24 hours after the National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, Abagun Kole Omololu, disclosed in a statement issued at the end of Tinubu’s visit to the Akure residence of Afenifere leader, that the APC candidate has been confirmed and endorsed by Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

In the meeting, Yoruba leaders affirmed that Nigeria must be established on the basis of democracy, true federalism and social justice.

 “Having taken cognisance of his commendable antecedents as Lagos State Governor and his demonstrated ability in building physical and human capital, the Yoruba Leaders at today’s meeting are in no doubt that Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria offers the best opportunity to produce a government of that will usher in a new Era of hope, peace, security, harmony, gainful employment for the multitude, economic development, social and political stability,” it noted.

The group added that Tinubu also assured them of his commitment to the promotion of true federalism that will give states more control over their affairs.

 “He shared with us his vision of a greater and more prosperous Nigeria where democratic rights, rule of law, justice and fairness will reign supreme. He also gave assurance on steps to be taken to ensure safety and security of Nigerians and their properties,” it added.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who was in Akure to present his manifesto to Fasoranti and other Yoruba leaders, said that President Muhammadu Buhari and APC governors in the north had proved that Nigeria could survive its unity and surmount challenges.

 Tinubu said that the visit was in fulfilment of an earlier promise he made to the Afenifere leader before the APC primaries.

“I promised to come back after winning the APC ticket.

“I am here to thank all Yoruba leaders and also ask them to thank Buhari and northern governors for their steadfastness and for being promise-keepers.

“The North proved to me Nigeria can survive its unity. Some people wanted President Muhammadu Buhari to announce someone, but the President said no.

“He insisted the process must go on democratically. The President said that anyone that would mess up the APC process would see his other side. He remained upright to the end.

“Northern APC Governors resolved that the presidency must go to the South and, especially, South West. Governors Nasir El-Rufai, Abdullahi Ganduje and others supported me to the end.

“The battle was tough and, at a point, I was in doubt. There were many rumours and I became confused over what to believe,” he stated.

However, the endorsement by Pa Fasoranti-led Afenifere has brought a new twist to the 2023 elections as leaders of the Southern and Middlebelt Leaders Forum, which is made up of Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and Middle Belt Forum, recently endorsed Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, at the residence of Afenifere’s leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo in Lagos. Adebanjo took over from Fasoranti in March 2021 when the latter stepped down as the national leader of Afenifere, citing old age.