AD Rejects Afenifere's Recognition of Akinfenwa
By Ndubuisi Ugah
Alliance for Democracy (AD) yesterday rejected the purported recognition of factional leader of the party, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, by Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere as its National Chairman, describing the decision as "null and void."
The party noted that the decision was not taking in the spirit of the ongoing reconciliatory moves by the party but was intended "to obliterate and finally kill the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in order to pave way for their hidden agenda to form a new party."
AD, in a statement by its National Director of Publicity, Research and Statistics, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the alleged meeting held at the Akure residence of Afenifere's acting leader, Chief R. F. Fasoranti, where the purported recognition of Akinfenwa was made, "runs against the opinion of the overwhelming majority of Afenifere members."
The party explained that the gathering was supposed to be a committee meeting and not a general meeting of Afenifere, which alone could take such decision.
Adeyeye observed that in taking such decision, the committee went beyond its brief and its powers, in arrogating to itself the power to accord recognition to a particular factional chairman, a situation he added, "would exacerbate the problem and make reconciliation difficult, if not impossible."
According to him, the meeting "was supposed to be a reconciliation meeting and not that of approving or recognising authority," adding that "at best it was expected to report back to the general meeting of Afenifere which alone could take such a decision."
The statement noted that "at the Akure meeting, a group of leaders (not more than nine) all of whom were not only smypathisers but activists of the Akinfenwa group arrogated to themselves the exclusive power to decide for the whole committee."
Adeyeye expressed regret 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 comtempt for the grassroots, whose opinion was never taking into consideration."
Explaining further, the party stated that the action of the committee was "not only arrogant and undemocratic, it is to say the least reprehensible," as such "dictatorial attitude is clearly unacceptable to the vast majority of Afenifere members, who love and cherish democracy."
"On three separate occasions, even in the early days of the conflict, this group of leaders had wanted to rush to that rash decision, but were checkmated by the more perceptible younger elements, who believe that it was their future that was being insensitively mortgaged in this unreasonable fight of the elephants. On Tuesday, the so-called elders sidelined these younger elements," the statement alleged.
While decrying the actions of the elders, AD said the alleged recognition of Akinfenwa "was not born out for a love of Akinfenwa (who had in the past stated openly that Afenifere was dead) or out of an altruistic or patriotic motive," since "those who met in Akure know too well that recognising Akinfenwa will not in any way lead to any solution."
"But this agenda is not all that hidden. It is clear and it is in the 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.
"It is unfortunate that those who who claim the leadership of Afenifere today do not care whether or not the entire edifice collapses on their heads. They refuse to ask themselves the hard questions and continue to wallow in self-delusion of a long exstinct glory," the statement added.
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