Afenifere Absolves Iwuanyanwu From Verbal Attack On Yoruba; Says Criminal Gangs To Blame

By Akinwale Kasali

■Sacks two officers over Iwuanyanwu.

■Full text of Communique.

The apex Yoruba Socio/Cultural Organisation, Afenifere, has deplored the attack on Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Chairman of the Elders’ Council of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Iwuanyanwu has been under attack by a number of the Yoruba, over a fake comment creditated to him. He was falsely quoted to have called the Yoruba “Political rascals” who the Igbo would “deal with” during a speech he made in Awka at the First Anniversary of Professor Charles Soludo as the Governor of Anambra State, following the physical attack  on a number of the Igbo in Lagos during the General Elections.

The misinformation caused tension between the two ethnic groups, and climaxed when a statement creditated  to Afenifere condemned Iwuanyanwu and the Igbo.

And, for being present at the function and saying and/or doing nothing to confront Iwuanyanwu, Femi Fani-Kayode, in a tweet, doubted the paternity of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

But in a communique after its meeting on Tuesday, 28th March at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State, presided over by its Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Afenifere denied issuing any statement in condemnation of Iwuanyanwu, and attributed it to the handiwork of impostors.

It distanced Iwuanyanwu from the said offensive statement and said that after watching the video of the event, it was clear to them that Iwuanyanwu made no such statement.

On the contrary, Afenifere noted that Iwuanyanwu clearly said that the two ethnic groups are one and that there is no war between  them.

The Communique said: Afenifere “received a message creditated to Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in a viral video alleging indictment of the Yoruba as Political Rascals on account of ethnic violence deployed by politicians of the ruling party in Lagos State. On the analysis of the video and information at the disposal of Afenifere by people at the Anambra State gathering, we are convinced that Chief Iwuanyanwu rightly asserted that the Yoruba and Igbo were not at war and truly condemned the shenanigans of some political rascals.”

Afenifere said it, therfore, issued no statement against Chief Iwuanyanwu and distanced itself from any such statement.

According to it, Afenifere “observed the uncouth activities and unauthorised statements in its name, and to the constant denigration of the organisation by Jare Ajayi, the National Publicity Secretary, and Abagun Kole Omololu, the National Organising Secretary. After due consideration of the unending embarrassing conduct of the two officers, the Meeting resolved that they be, and are hereby removed immediately from their respective offices and their membership be suspended sine die pending further decisions after their appearance before and recommendations by the Disciplinary Committee.”

Following is the full text of the Communique signed by Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Secretary General, Chief Sola Ebiseni.

BEING THE COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING OF THE AFENIFERE HELD AT THE RESIDENCE OF OUR LEADER, CHIEF AYO ADEBANJO AT ISANYA OGBO OGUN STATE ON TUESDAY 28TH DAY OF MARCH 2023.

• 1. 000 PREAMBLE●

“1.02 The Afenifere held its regular monthly General Meeting today,  28th day of March 2023, at the residence of our Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State.

“1.03  After intensive deliberations on the state of the Nigerian Federation, the Meeting which was presided over by our Leader aforesaid and attended by delegates from the member states of our Organisation observed and Resolved as follows:

2.00 RESOLUTIONS

“2.01 That Afenifere reiterates our position that the Presidential election held on the 25th of February 2023 was characterised by all forms of primitive manipulations and noncompliance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act 2022 and the Guidelines and Regulations made pursuant thereto with concomitant legislative force.

“2.02 Reiterates that “the results of the lawful votes at the Presidential election available to the Afenifere through credible sources confirm that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, won the said election and we, thus, support his decision challenging the contrary declaration by the INEC.

“2.03  Re-assert that for equity, fairness, national cohesion and peaceful corporate existence, the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be person of its southern part and specifically the South-East.

“2.04 Condemns in the strongest terms, the campaigns of calumny and  acts of ethnic violence deployed by some politicians and their hired criminal gangs in several parts of the federation during the gubernatorial election, particularly, Lagos State where the election was made to appear like an inter-ethnic war between the Yoruba and Igbo  which greatly led to voters’ suppression and other forms of deliberate disenfranchisement through brigandage.

“2.05 Received a message credited to Chief Emmanuel Iwunayanwu in a viral video alleging indictment of the Yoruba as political rascals on account of ethnic violence deployed by politicians of the ruling party in Lagos State. On the analysis of the video and information at the disposal of Afenifere by people at the Anambra State gathering, we are convinced that Chief Iwunayanwu rightly asserted that the Yoruba and Igbo were not at war and truly condemned the shenanigans of some political rascals.

“2.06. Flowing from the above, Afenifere state that it never issued any statement and dissociate the Organisation from any such statement against Chief Iwunayanwu.

“2.07  Observed the uncouth activities and unauthorised statements in its  name and to the constant denigration of the organisation, by Jare Ajayi, the National Publicity Secretary and Abagun Kole Omololu the National Organising Secretary. After due consideration of the unending embarrassing conduct of the two officers, the Meeting resolved that they be and are hereby removed immediately from their respective offices and their membership be suspended sine die pending further decisions after their appearance before and recommendations by the Disciplinary Committee.

“2.08 Restates our position that in accordance with the hallowed Yoruba culture of civilised conduct, Afenifere assure all persons resident in Yorubaland, indigenes and non-indegenes, of protection in the conduct of their lawful duties and thus warn all threats mongers and merchants of violence to desist therefrom.

“2.09 Expresses our belief in the judiciary as an integral part of the democratic process and expect that it proves itself in the election litigations now pending before it without fear or favour and in accordance with the judicial oaths of its members, in covenant with the Nigerian people.

“2.1 0  Calls on the President and Government of Nigeria to restore the patriotic confidence and hope of the Nigerian people in the continued corporate existence of the federation which will guaranty their safety throughout Nigeria.

“2.11  Appreciates the genuine and renewed interests of the international community in the security and democratic health of Nigeria and urge that as a prominent member of the global community, the affairs of Nigeria should continue to be of concern to the world.

“Dated and issued at Isanya Ogbo, this 28th day of March 2023.”