By Ayodele Oni
Internal wranglings rocking the Pan Yoruba socio cultural organization, Afenifere took a new dimension on Tuesday as some Youths, under the umbrella of Yoruba Afenifere Youth Organisation of Nigeria (YAYON), staged a protest, demanding that the acting leader of the Group, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, step aside from the leadership of the organisation.
The youths of the pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation staged the protest in Akure on Tuesday.
The protesters also stormed the Akure residence of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, urging him to intervene in the Afenifere crisis.
Adebanjo, the acting leader had supported the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, (LP) during the 2023 general election, while Fasoranti endorsed the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The protesters, carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Pa Fasonranti, please rescue Afenifere”, “Ayo Adebanjo must go.” “Revoke the mandate you gave to Adebanjo”, “Adebanjo, time to step aside,” amongst others.
Leader of the protesters, Comrade Eric Oluwole, said an ultimatum would soon be issued to Adebanjo to step down.
Besides the stepping down of Pa Adebanjo, Comrade Oluwole said Afenifere’s meeting ought to be held in Akure since Pa Fasonranti was still alive.
Comrade Oluwole said they want sanity restored to the body.
According to him: “We want to create this strong awareness to the Yoruba Nation that the vote of no confidence on Pa Adebanjo still stand. We cannot allow one leader jeopardise out future.
“We called on Adebanjo to step down. Baba only wrote him a letter to step in as Afenifere Acting Leader . He should step down. We are part of Afenifere.
“We need sanity within Afenifere. He mentioned that Fasoranti cannot talk to but we believe that we the youths can talk to him.
“Afenifere is passing through internal crisis. Adebanjo sanctioned two National Officers because they made statements in the papers.
“Adebanjo is using political inner mind to cause crisis. He cannot suspend National Officers without reference to Baba.”
Another protester, Bukola Veronica, said they no longer recognise Adebanjo as Acting Leader of Afenifere.
Pa Fasonranti who spoke through his Chief Security Officer, Sunday Ogunkalu, assured the protesters that he would looked into their demands.
He appealed to them to conduct themselves peacefully.
, staged a protest, demanding that the acting leader of the Group, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, step aside from the leadership of the organisation.){kind=link}