Akure Youths Protest, demand Ade Banjo's sack as Afenifere leadership
Youths, under the umbrella of Yoruba Afenifere Youth Organisation of Nigeria (YAYON), have staged a protest, demanding that the acting leader of the Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, step down from the leadership of the organisation.
The protesters also stormed the Akure residence of Pa Reuben Fasoranti to intervene in the Afenifere crisis.
Recall that Fasonranti, in 2021, had cited old age as the reason for his stepping down as leader of the group he led since 2008
Fasoranti named Adebanjo as Acting Leader of the body but crisis crept in over the choice of whose presidential candidate to support.
Adebanjo backed Peter Obi of the Labour Party while Fasoranti backed the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
The protest and demand for the sack of Adabanjo may not be unconnected to his unfettered support for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections
The protesters could be seen carrying placards with various inscriptions such as “Pa Fasonranti, please rescue Afenifere”. “Ayo Adebanjo must go.” “Revoke the mandate you gave to Adebanjo.” and “Adebanjo, time to step aside,” amongst others.
Leader of the protesters, Eric Oluwole, said an ultimatum would soon be issued to Adebanjo to step down.
Oluwole said, besides the stepping down of Pa Adebanjo, Afenifere’s meeting ought to be held in Akure since Fasonranti was still alive.
Comrade Oluwole said they want sanity restored to the body.
He stated, “We want to create this strong awareness to the Yoruba Nation that the vote of no confidence on Pa Adebanjo still stands. We cannot allow one leader to jeopardise our future.
“We called on Adebanjo to step down. Baba only wrote him a letter to step in as Afenifere's 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 an internal crisis. Adebanjo sanctioned two National Officers because they made statements in the papers.
“Adebanjo is using their political inner mind to cause a crisis. He cannot suspend National Officers without reference to Baba.”
Another protester, Bukola Veronica, said they no longer recognise Adebanjo as the Acting Leader of Afenifere.
Meanwhile, Fasonranti, who spoke through his Chief Security Officer, Sunday Ogunkalu, assured the protesters that he would look into their demands.
He appealed to them to conduct themselves peacefully.
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