Afenifere scraps Ayo Adebanjo’s acting leader position

Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere has abolished the positions of acting leader and deputy leader of the group, presently held by Pa Ayo Adebanjo and Oba Oladipo Olaitan.

The group took the decision at the monthly meeting held at the country home of its national leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, Ondo State.

A communiqué released on Wednesday by the group’s national publicity secretary, Jare Ajayi, said the decision was to halt the polarisation of Afenifere.

The communiqué said the motion on the need to abrogate the dual positions was moved by a 92-year-old, professor of surgery, Samuel Ibikunle, from Ogun State and seconded by Niyi lkuomelo from Ondo.

Professor lbikunle, while moving the motion said that “based on the report of the reconciliation committee, that it has reached a dead end and is unable to achieve reconciliation, l, Prof Samuel lbikunle of Ogun state Afenifere, hereby move that the offices of the acting leader and deputy leader should be dissolved into an Afenifere Elders Caucus to be constituted by the leader.”

The communiqué reads, “A motion on the need to abrogate the dual positions of Acting Leader and Deputy Leader was moved by Dr. S. J. Ibikunle from Ogun State. It was seconded by members from Ekiti, Kwara, Oyo and Ondo States.

“When the matter was thrown to the general house, the motion was unanimously carried.

“Flowing from this, the Leader then declared as follows: that ‘In the light of recent events and the pressing need to reposition and rejuvenate Afenifere, it has been decided as follows: the position of Acting Leader and Deputy Leader has now been abrogated, the responsibilities and authority of advising the Leader Afenifere and Asiwaju Yoruba are now vested in the Afenifere Elders Caucus which is hereby constituted.

“Members of the Elders Caucus are as follow: Chief R. F. Fasoranti – Chairman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, HRM Oba Olu Falae, HE Senator C O Adebayo, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, Senator Kofo Bucknor Akerele, Arch Bishop Prince Ayo Ladigbolu, Lt. Gen Alani Ipoola Akinrinade, Maj Gen. Olu Bajowa rtd, Prof Bolaji Akinwande Akinyemi, Prof Banji Akintoye, Prof Samuel Ibikunle, Chief Femi Aluko, Prince Alonge, Dr Yomi Finnih, Prince Olusi, Hon Korede Duyile, Prof Ropo Sekoni, Hon Lekan Alabi and Dr Kunle Olajide.”

Present at the meeting include Prof Ropo Sekoni, Kole Omololu, former governor Olusegun Mimiko, former Osun deputy governor, lyiola Omisore; Dare Babarinsa, Agbakin Ademola Folarin, Pastor Bola Bolawole, Chief lmam of Yorubaland, Abduraheem Aduranigba among others.