The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere on Tuesday
endorsed the Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa-led faction of the Alliance for
Democracy (AD) in what appears to be a new twist in the crisis rocking the party.
Announcing the decision to back the faction
on Tuesday in Akure, the acting Chairman of Afenifere, Chief Reuben
Fasoranti, also ruled out any convention of the party for now.
At a meeting attended by top Afenifere chieftains but
boycotted by members of the Chief Bisi Akande led faction, held at
Fasoranti’s residence in Akure, Afenifere said it only recognised
Akinfenwa’s leadership based on the fact that he was the only one elected
through constitutional procedure in Abuja.
Addressing reporters at the end of the
meeting, the Afenifere leader ruled out fears that the group’s new
position could polarise the crisis-rocked party enmeshed in chairmanship
tussle.
“After long discussions, which
considered different opinions, we have reached a consensus that the
circumstances now do not favour convention. We support the candidate elected
from Abuja because that was the convention held with specific guidelines and an
executive emerged… This is the decision of Afenifere,” Fasoranti
declared. Among the top chieftains of the socio-cultural group, which graced
the meeting on Tuesday were former presidential candidate, Chief Olu Falae,
Chief Ayo Adebanjo, former deputy governors of Lagos and Ondo states, Chief
Rafiu Jafojo and Otunba Gbenga Kaka, among others.
On how the AD would move to placate the
Akande faction to halt further crisis in the party, Fasoranti said Afenifere
would “go to the field” to talk to people for common settlement.
Asked why the Akande faction was not
represented at the meeting, the Afenifere leader said he did not know, saying
the meeting was attended by party men from all AD states and Kwara. He said
Afenifere had invited the Akande faction “and we agreed on this date,
August 17.” Speaking at the end of the meeting, former Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF) and Minister of Finance, Chief Olu Falae,
said by backing Akinfenwa, “The party was only conforming with the
provisions of the constitution.”
Also commenting, Akinfenwa said the party was embarked on
measures aimed at mending fences. On the crisis surrounding the Owu stool in
Abeokuta, Afenifere said it was studying the scenario, stressing that it was a
state affair.
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