Tinubu/Peter Obi: Afenifere Torn Apart Ahead Of 2023 General Elections

The Pan Yoruba Socio-Cultural Organization, Afenifere is divided on the presidential ambition of the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.

The leader of Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo had openly supported their presidential ambition of Obi.

Adebanjo had claimed that it is the turn of the South-East to take over power, hence the reason for his support for the former Governor of Anambra State.

The immediate past National Secretary of the group, Basorun Sehinde Arogbofa, in an interview with Vanguard had said Adebanjo has the right to support anyone.

According to Arogbofa, if the election is held in 2023, the majority of Afenifere members will support Tinubu.

Arogbofa said Tinubu did well as Governor of Lagos State, adding that he can bring that on board as president.

He said, “Afenifere members are not robots. They are made up of intelligent people with strong convictions but occasional divergent views. That notwithstanding, they are bound together by the welfare philosophy of the association. On any contentious issue, they come together as democrats to discuss and agree on a consensus.

“While the consensus becomes their public stand view those who disagree are still allowed to keep their views without necessarily making them an opposition position to the majority decision. After all, when Afenifere floated the SDP for its members to contest upon, a few individuals were known to still hoist the Labour Party flag in their residence, while a few others were said to be secretly romancing with one party or the other. Yet, Afenifere did not break. Yes, Baba Adebanjo has been supporting a presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi, even when an Afenifere meeting for a consensus has not been held.

“However, his position can not destroy what the association stands for. Baba has a right to his choice and conviction but that does not mean that all members are with him. For instance, Chief R.F. Fasoranti whom Chief Ayo Adebanjo always refer to as his leader told Priscilla Ediare in the Saturday Sun of July 20, 2002, on page 14, and I quote him, “When Senator Bola Tinubu was the Governor of Lagos, he did very well. I think he can carry that into the Presidency. From all indications, if elections will hold in 2023, this is where most Afenifere, who are the silent majority, are gravitating.”