By Tosin Olatokunbo
The pan-Yoruba political group, Afenifere has denied endorsing former Governor of Lagos state and All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state for the 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu and Fayemi are considered frontline candidates from the south west for the biggest electoral contest in the country, even though feelers from the group indicate that it may support former vice President Atiku Abubakar for the nation’s top job in 2023.
But speaking on a PUNCH Online interview programme, The Roundtable, few minutes ago, Yinka Odumakin, the spokesman of the group, said Afenifere has not thrown its weight behind any aspirant whether from the region or without, for the 2023 presidency.
The Afenifere spokesman also claimed that the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church in Lagos, Pastor Tunde Bakare is still interested in contesting the presidential election. The popular pastor was President Muhammadu Buhari;s running mate in the 2011 presidential contest. He also said, last year. that he will succeed Buhari in 2023.
Recall that Pastor Bakare had recently drawn attention over his comment that Tinubu is the most popular politician from the south west to contest the 2023 presidential election.
The fiery preacher warned Yoruba leaders from vilifying the former Lagos governor, who he said has won many battles for the people of the south west.
Bakare said “ Like Jephthah the Gileadite, he has fought many battles on behalf of the Yoruba people and won despite his rough beginning and God does not need anybody’s permission to put such in his hall of fame despite their past deeds and ancestry.
“Despite his growing up challenges, the dents and the detours of his life, he like Jephthah delivered Lagos State and nearly all the southwest states from the onslaught of the PDP from 1999 to 2007.
“Truth be told, without his cooperation and political dexterity, the APC victory at the polls in 2015 and 2019 would have been impossible.”
