Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has described the meeting of Bola Tinubu, with Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, Ondo State, as diversionary.
Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the former leader of Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-political group, had prayed for the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, on Sunday.
Tinubu got the endorsement after visiting his residence in Ondo State, barely four months before the commencement of the presidential election.
He was received at the airport by the state deputy governor Lucky Ayedatiwa, the state chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin and other leaders of the party in and outside the state.
The former Governor of Osun state, Chief Bisi Akande and National secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore, SWAGA National coordinator, Dayo Adeyeye, former Minister Musiliu Obanikoro and other party leaders accompanied the candidate to visit Pa Fasoranti.
Tinubu was received at Fasoranti’s ljapo country home by the Ekiti state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Olu Falae former Ogun state governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the Minister of state, Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, and the former Minister of state, Niger Delta, Chief Tayo Alasoadura and former governorship aspirant of the party, chief Olusola Oke.
Reacting to the report, Chief Adebanjo said the “real Afenifere” has made its position known about endorsing the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, and that has not changed.
Pa Adebanjo said the intent was to create a wedge between him and Pa Fasoranti and he was not bothered about it.
Tinubu had met Pa Fasoranti where he presented his 80-page manifesto to the nonagenarian with other prominent Yoruba leaders in attendance.
The meeting came after Adebanjo endorsed a South-Easterner as the preferred candidate of Afenifere in 2023.
Speaking with Daily Trust, Adebanjo said Fasoranti called him over the phone yesterday and he warned him.
He said: “The Yoruba People know their leader. I’ve spoken, the National Secretary has spoken. This is no the time to engage in polemics. The way forward is my position.
“What happened was a diversion. They want us to be engaged in arguments. Is that the issue now?”
He insisted that in the interest of fairness and justice, it is the turn of the South East to produce the next President.
“Can he (Tinubu) deny it that the South-West has not had its turn? Can he deny it South-South has not had its turn? They should answer that. As far as I am concerned, the meeting does not concern us as Afenifere.
“Afenifere is not divided. That was why I said I don’t want to engage in polemics. They want to throw a wedge between me and Pa Reuben Fasoranti and I won’t allow it. The man phoned me yesterday and I warned him, don’t get yourself involved,” he said.
