AKURE—ALLIANCE for Democracy (AD) has denounced the purported recognition of the Senator Mojisolowa Akinfunwa-led faction as the National chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) by Afenifere. Ondo State chapter of Afenifere itself has kicked against the decision of the national body.
AD in a statement signed by Prince Dayo Adeyeye publicity director of AD said the meeting at Chief Reuben Fasoranti’s house where Afenifere allegedly recognised Senator Akinfenwa’s faction was inconclusive.
"The committee therefore went beyond its brief and its powers to accord recognition to a particular factional chairman, it was supposed to be a reconciliation meeting and not an approving or recognizing authority.”
It explained that “at the Akure meeting, a group of leaders (not more than nine) all of whom were not only sympathizers but activists of the Akinfenwa group arrogated to themselves the exclusive power to decide for the whole committee’ adding that such attitude is clearly unacceptable to the vast majority of Afenifere members, who love and cherish democracy.
“It was clear all along that this group of leaders of Afenifere, acting with impunity in the absence of the moderating influence and wise counsel of our revered leader, Senator Abraham Adesanya, were never genuinely interested in reconciliation, but the perpetuation of factional fighting for which they have gained historical notoriety”, the party said.
The party, however, alleged that the decision to recognize the Akinfenwa-led faction was not borne out of love but “was to obliterate and finally kill the Alliance for Democracy in order to pave the way for their hidden agenda to form a new party.”
Those who met in Akure know too well that recognizing Akinfenwa will not in any way lead to any solution, but they were deviously clear in their minds that it would exacerbate the problem and make reconciliation difficult, if not impossible.”
The party maintained that the “agenda is not all that hidden. It is clear and it is open. The young men and women, who genuinely love the party, and whose future is at stake will not permit this perfidy. Those who wish to carry their fight to the grave are free to do so, but they should not imagine that we all wish to carry their baggage.”
The party argued that “in taking that decision, these leaders demonstrated clearly that they are out of touch with reality, and out of touch with the people they claim to lead.
"They demonstrated complete contempt for the grassroots, whose opinion was never taken into consideration. What they did was a show of arrogance bordering on absurdity.
"The decision by Afenifere therefore is null and void and of no effect whatsoever. It runs against the opinion of the overwhelming majority of Afenifere members".
