Afenifere, YCE: A dynamism in reconciliation
By Idowu Ajanaku
FOR Afenifere, the Pan Yoruba socio-political group and the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), last week's parley in which they resolved to work together in the interest of the Yoruba race was significant.
The meeting, which took place in the residence of YCE President, Chief Emmanuel Alayande, tackled the strained relationship between the two groups.
The formation of YCE has its root in the face-off between the late Chief Bola Ige, the then deputy leader of Afenifere and the leadership of the Pan Yoruba group.
This followed what has come to be known as a coup in the presidential primaries of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). Ige lost to Falae in a surprise reverse of fortunes.
Thereafter Ige joined the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo without the approval of Afenifere and from that moment, he was on the firing line from the leadership of his group.
Thus, the formation of the YCE was apparently to checkmate the influence of Afenifere in the South West. Ige in conjunction with other politicians from the zone who felt short-changed formed the YCE.
Although he was not present at the launching of the group in Ibadan, his impact was felt at the meeting. Until his death, Ige denied any role in the formation of the group. Members of the YCE apart from its President, Alayande, the late scribe of the group, Chief Adewale Thompson included Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Dr. Kunle Olajide, Dr. Tunji Otegbeye, Major General Adeyinka Adebayo and Second Republic Minister, Chief Richard Akinjide.
When the group came on stream, it tagged itself a non-political association by the Yoruba elders to bring the Yoruba race together. But this assumption soon collapsed when YCE began to contest the political space with Afenifere.
First, was the issue of the second term of President Olusegun Obasanjo. While Afenifere under the leadership of Senator Abraham Adesanya was yet to make up its mind whether to support Obasanjo or not, YCE not only threw its support behind Obasanjo, but openly campaign for his re-election. The position of Afenifere then might not be unconnected with its affiliation to AD, which was controlling the six states in the South West.
Also, YCE challenged the leadership of Adesanya as the leader of the Yoruba in spite of his role in the struggle for the revalidation of the June 12, 1993 Presidency elections and subsequent return of democracy. YCE insisted that the Yoruba was not fully represented at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan, where Adesanya was chosen to lead the Yoruba.
Afenifere insisted that like any other Yoruba group that had been formed before like Igbe Omo Oduduwa, Imeri Unity Group headed by Dr. Bode Olajumoke during the Abacha transaction programme would die a natural death. Chief Ayo Adebanjo said that YCE was formed to compete with Afenifere in the South West.
According to him, Afenifere was the umbrella body of all the political parties formed by the late Awolowo; Action Group (AG), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) would outlive any organisation formed on the basis of dividing the Yoruba.
However, if there was any good that the formation of YCE has brought to the politics of the South West, it is dynamism. It was the challenge of the YCE that compelled Afenifere to embark on restructuring in order to win more members.
This was against the background of YCE providing space for those who could not fit into the political equation of Afenifere. By this action, Afenifere shot its door against incoming politicians in the South West. Thus, YCE provides an alternative, an open door. YCE, an association without political affiliation like Afenifere was able to accommodate politicians and non-politicians alike from the Yoruba race irrespective of their political ideologies or party. Therefore, the on-going reform, which is likely to make Afenifere a more liberal association, was because of the formation of YCE.
However, as the 2007 elections approach, the Yoruba is in apparent move to strengthen the Yoruba unity has decided to work together.
It was learnt that the peace initiative, which was facilitated by YCE was to ensure that the Yoruba come together for common goal in 2007. Speaking on the reconciliatory meeting, Mr. Yinka Odumakin said, the two groups decided to team up in the interest of the Yoruba.
The Ibadan meeting was seen as a right step towards total reconciliation in Yoruba land.
In Odumakin's thinking, those who are causing political division in Yoruba land for their selfish interests should now stay away.
He said that more than any period, the Yoruba should be united for the progress of the race but for the unborn generation.
Asked how the two groups would work together, he said: "Two committees have been set up to harmonise the positions of the two groups."
For Jakande, the reconciliatory meeting was a welcome development. To him, the peace meeting was the beginning of good things to come for the South West. In his own comments, Chief Akinjide said that the parley was a successful one.
His words: "It is a family meeting designed to enhance the unity of the Yoruba race," he said.
