Politics

2023: Afenifere insists on Igbo President, calls for Southern unity

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Afenifere, a Yoruba sociopolitical organization, demanded on Monday that the Igbo produce the president of Nigeria in 2023 for the sake of equity, justice, and fairness.

This was revealed by Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the Afenifere leader, during the Greater Nigeria Conference in Abuja, which was organized by leaders and allies of the South East Geopolitical Zone under the subject “Together We Can.”

He claimed that if the political elite and retired military generals could give the Yoruba the presidency in 1999, the same approach might be used to give the Igbo micro-zone authority.

He also called the Yoruba presidential campaign “awkward.”

The organization advised that hopefuls from the south, particularly the Igbo, needed to unify.

Adebanjo claimed that presidential aspirants from the South-South, such as Minister of Transportation Rt. Hon. Chibuike Ameachi and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, would give the north an unfair advantage over the south.

Adebanjo explained, “I only like to point to the fact that they are just deceiving you. All that you are hearing that they (the north) are supporting the South-West is an element of deceit to deprive you, to be able to rule you. They don’t like anybody!

I told Bola (Tinubu) himself, not in the papers, face-to-face, ‘You believe this man (Buhari) will make you president?’ He said yes. I said, ‘he wanted to make you president, he asked (Yemi) Osinbajo to contest? He asked (Kayode) Fayemi to contest, he asked Amosun (Ibikunle) to contest? All in the South-West, why? He wanted to divide the Yoruba first.

“The unfortunate thing is that President Goodluck Jonathan allowed himself to be disgraced by mentioning the fact that he was considering whether to be president, for what?”

When political figures in the north realized it was the Igbo’s turn to produce the president, Adebanjo wondered why they were now proposing so many hypotheses.

All the rhetoric about aspirants from the south traveling to lobby, campaign, and sell themselves was nonsense, according to the Afenifere leader, who stressed that the north knew the reality.

“Now that it is the turn of the Igbo, they are propounding a new theory: it must be based on merit and all that. If it is the question of merit, if it has been based on merit till today, till Kingdom comes, the Igbo alone will produce the president.

“Although, I don’t like all the people that came out from the east. But for the fact that they are saying you have no people, I’m happy you demonstrated that. But go and unite. A house divided against itself will not stand,” Pa Adebanjo stated.

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APC’s N100m for presidential form is recipe for corruption —Afenifere

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Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-political group, has criticised the high cost of nomination and expression of interest forms for presidential contenders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday.

According to the group, it would allow corruption to flourish in the country.

The APC had announced the sum of N100 million as cost for the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms for the party’s presidential aspirants.

Mr. Sola Ebiseni, the Secretary-General of Afenifere, reacted to the development by saying it was a tactic to prevent ordinary Nigerians from participating in government activities.

It is an insulting message to the pauperised Nigerians that they have no say in the governance of Nigeria or any part thereof. It is a direct affront to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and particularly the declaration in Section 14 (2) (b) that the participation of Nigerians in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.

How can the poor members of the party who are so blatantly discriminated against, on the basis of their situation in life, contrary to Section 42 of the constitution, participate in the governance of the country, particularly in a country where only a political party can field a candidate and no independent candidate allowed?

“Unfortunately, the two dominant parties are both guilty in this game of absurdity and conspiracy against the ordinary Nigerians in the access to their platforms for political participation,” the Afenifere spokesman stated.

He noted that for the PDP, it goes against the goals of their founding fathers, like Alex Ekwueme and Solomon Lar, adding, that the existing payment for participation is the pinnacle of political insensitivity and an open invitation to steal by anyone who could only rise to power through corruption.

The only path ahead for the country, Ebiseni claimed, was reorganization, which would bring every citizen to power.

Only the reconstruction of the country’s political architecture, which liberalizes citizens’ access to power, can prevent the country’s inevitable decline into oligarchy and anarchy, he said.

Felix Morka, the APC spokesman at the end of a closed-door meeting of the party’s NEC in Abuja on Tuesday, had revealed that members who want to run in the All Progressives Congress‘s (APC) presidential primaries must pay N100 million for nomination and expression of interest forms.

Politics

We will never beg Buhari to release Sunday Igboho –Afenifere

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Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has vowed never to stoop low to beg President Muhammadu Buhari to release Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, who is currently in prison custody in Benin Republic.

The group was reacting to calls by prominent Yoruba individuals and groups urging it to emulate Igbo leaders and approach President Buhari to plead for the release of Igboho.

But in a statement on Friday signed its General-Secretary, Sola Ebiseni, Afenifere said there was no basis to beg the President to release the Oduduwa Republic advocate as he had committed no crime.

We do not have to beg the President to release Sunday Igboho. Sunday Igboho did not commit any offence whatsoever; that’s our position.

“Those who went to invade his house were terrorists in Nigerian security uniform and they have no right whatsoever and that has been tested in a court of competent jurisdiction. Igboho has been absolved and the government was visited with N20bn worth of damages.

“In spite of the impunity of the Buhari government, we insist that Nigeria shall not be governed except by the rule of law,” the statement said.

World News

There’ll be no election in 2023 without new Constitution —Afenifere

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Apex pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has insisted that there will be no election in 2023 without a new Constitution for the country.

The Afenifere who declared this stance through its leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, at the its monthly meeting held at his residence in Sanya-Ogbo, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on Tuesday, said leaders of the group have resolved to preach a ‘no new Constitution, no 2023 election’ to all Yoruba people in the country.

Adebanjo who presided over the meeting, said it will be a waste of time for Yoruba people to participate in the coming election with the 1999 Constitution still in operation.

On the resolution of the group on the coming election, Adebanjo said he and other leaders of Afenifere have resolved that the Constitution must be reviewed before the election could hold.

“I don’t believe in the election as the leader of Afenifere and some of my members here don’t believe; I don’t believe in that election and I have told my members if they can refuse it, okay, what do we need elections for?” Chief Adebanjo reiterated.

“Our stand is that the Constitution is not our own, the election is going on under that fraudulent Constitution, they said they will go to the assembly to amend, assembly is the product of the fraud. You want the beneficiary of the fraud to amend the fraud, who are you talking to? Here is a man that has come out openly, declared that, ‘say what you like,” he added.

Politics

Afenifere is a terrorist group, must be proscribed —Northern Coalition

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The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has labelled the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, a terrorist organisation, calling on the Federal Government to immediately proscribe it as well as other cultural tribal organisations undermining the peace, security and peaceful coexistence of the country.”

In a statement issued on Monday by Abdul-Azeez Suleman, CNG’s spokesman and made available to Ripples Nigeria, the Northern Coalition said any organisation or individuals associated with groups that incite others to violations or openly support acts of terror and terrorist movements should be arrested and decisively dealt with by the authorities.

Part of the statement reads;

The CNG emphatically repudiate the provocative action of remnants of those who harbour pent-up grudges against the rest of Nigeria for the failure of Awolowo’s tribalistic ambition to secure the nation’s leadership, and deem this affront.

“The CNG unequivocally declare that groups like Afenifere and other organisations who go about making inciting statements to undermine the corporate existence of Nigeria are terrorists organisations and we call on the Federal Government under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, to recognise them as such and proscribe them with immediate effect.

We have noticed, sadly, that Afenifere has, over the years, constituted themselves into a nuisance by always making statements capable of throwing the nation into chaos and anarchy and the government should rein them in and curb their excesses.”

Politics

Adebanjo has nothing to do with Gumi – Afenifere

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Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, on Friday distanced its leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, from controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi.

The cleric had been holding talks with bandits hiding in forests in northern part of the country in a bid to ensure release of students abducted by the hoodlums in several states in the region.

Gumi also accused the military of colluding with the bandits terrorizing the citizens during an interview on Arise TV last month.

Some pictures of Adebanjo and the cleric standing together at a forum had recently surfaced on social media.

The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Jare Ajayi, who reacted to the development in a statement, insisted that the 93-year-old elder statesman has nothing to do with the cleric.

According to him, the pictures in question were taken during a trip to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s home in Abeokuta, Ogun State, before the 2019 presidential election.

He said the Afenifere leader had in a joint statement issued alongside the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide; and Middle Belt Forum in February condemned Gumi for demanding amnesty for bandits.

The spokesman said Adebanjo was “never known to be in cahoots with any criminal or those who keep company with alleged criminals and bandits.”

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to some pictures making the rounds in which the acting Leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, was alleged to be in company of Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, the Islamic preacher who is negotiating with kidnappers in the northern parts of Nigeria.

As everyone knows, Chief Adebanjo, a lawyer, is not only a man of peace for whom human rights matter a lot, he is never known to be in cahoots with any criminal or those who keep company with alleged criminals and bandits.

“The pictures being circulated in which Adebanjo was seen in the same flight with Gumi and later in a handshake in the presence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo were taken in 2018 in the run-up to the presidential election that took place in 2019.

It would be recalled that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar elicited the assistance of various important Nigerian personalities to help him secure the support of his former boss, Obasanjo, in his (Abubakar’s) bid to become the country’s President then. Those Atiku Abubakar approached for this purpose included Sokoto Catholic Archbishop Mathew Kukah; Bishop David Oyedepo, Founder of Living Faith Church and Senator Ben Bruce, among others.

“The picture taken in the plane was when the delegation was being flown to Abeokuta, Ogun State home of Chief Obasanjo. Chief Adebanjo was in the rear of the private jet of Atiku Abubakar that convened the team to Obasanjo’s home. Those on the same flight with Gumi and Chief Adebanjo included PDP Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

Thus, the pictures being circulated were taken over two years ago, long before kidnapping became this rampant and long before Gumi engaged in negotiating for bandits.

“As a matter of fact, it is on record that Chief Adebanjo condemned the present actions of Gumi as contained in the statement jointly issued by Adebanjo-led Afenifere, PANDEF, Ohanaeze and Middle Belt Forum among others, as reported by newspapers of February 28, 2021.”

Politics

Afenifere knocks presidency over comments on quit notice to herdsmen, rallies support for Ondo govt

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The Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, on Wednesday, knocked the presidency for opposing the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu’s ultimatum for Fulani herdsmen to vacate the state’s forest reserves.

The presidency had in a statement issued on Tuesday night by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, kicked against the ultimatum given to herdsmen to vacate the Ondo forest reserves by the state government.

He described the directive as unconstitutional.

However, in statement issued by its spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere urged “all true- born” Yorubas and governors in the South-West to stand behind Akeredolu.

The statement read: “The intervention by what we mistakenly call the Federal Government of Nigeria on behalf of marauding Fulanis in Ondo State against the lawful government in that state did not come to Afenifere as a surprise as it is in line with non–pretence by this regime that it represents only Fulani interests against those of Yoruba, Igbo, Junkun, Ijaw, and other tribes in Nigeria.

“The fact the Federal Government could only hear Ondo State when Governor Akeredolu was very loud and clear about herders to vacate forest reserves in the state is symptomatic that this government has a serious problem with heating the rest of us when the issue involves its anointed Fulanis.

“The Fulani criminals have caused untold hardships in Ondo State and other Yoruba towns and cities in recent time and only an irresponsible government that wants to behave like our Federal Government will continue to fold its arms.

“Are Ondo forest reserves under Ondo State Government or FG and Miyetti Allah?”

“We agree with the Ondo State Government that the insensibility of Garba Shehu violates the corporate existence of Nigeria.

“What has this government done to assure our people that it can protect our lives with the open murders of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, The Olufon of Ifon, and the Deputy Registrar of FUTA among many others?

“The lives of our people and other non-Fulani communities are daily being taken by local and foreign Fulani bandits without any sign that these lives matter to the government with its desire to shield the Fulani from the laws.

“Nobody would ever have believed that it would get to this irresponsible stage that the Federal Government will one day come to this barbaric level Garba Shehu has taken it and the peak of their direct salvos against Amotekun since it started.”

“All true- born Yoruba should stand behind Governor Akeredolu in these trying times.

“He must do all within the law to flush Ondo forests of all criminals. Other governors should emulate their chair and free our land from the Fulanis who have surrounded us with the shield of the federal government.”

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