Afenifere relaxes conditions for membership
From Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abeokuta
IN a major restructuring move, the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere said yesterday that its doors were now open to any Yoruba person who believes on its ideal, irrespective of such persons' political affiliations.
The decision was taken yesterday at the end of a meeting convened to discuss the report on how to move the Afenifere forward.
The meeting held at the residence of Senator Abraham Adesanya in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State was attended by delegates from Kogi and Kwara states, which were not part of the team before the administrative secretary of the group. Mr. Yinka Odumakin, who spoke to reporters after the meeting, disclosed that the meeting also resolved to work with any group interested in the national conference.
He stated that the report of the committee headed by the former Ogun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande was considered, amended and formally adopted for implementation.
The meeting, he said agreed to the re-organisation and repositioning of the group for future challenges.
Odumakin added "as far as I am concerned any Yoruba person that believed in the credo of Afenifere is a member.
He continued "once you are in a political party and you are implementing the credo, fine. But that is not to say we are opening membership to any particular party.
According to him, the meeting also discussed the state of the nation and resolved to align with any ethnic nationality, particularly those who believe in the need for a national conference so that we can move forward with or without the Federal Government.
On the group's relationship with the Yoruba Council of Elders, he assured that Afenifere would hasten up the process of the olive branch extended to them by the YCE.
Odumakin stated that the efforts by the leadership to reconcile the two AD factions were yet to yield positive results but said it could be resolved amicably.
The factional leaders of the party, Akande and Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa attended the meeting.
Other personalities at the meeting were former Ekiti State Governor, Niyi Adebayo, Chief Olu Falae and Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Dr. Femi Okurounmu, Alhaji Gbenga Kaka, Olabiyi Durojaiye, among others.
