Governor Makinde plans reconciliation of Afenifere’s lingering dispute

Pan-Yoruba sociocultural group, Afenifere, along with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has made a move to resolve the rift in the organisation.

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, two prominent leaders, Pa Ayo Adebanjo and Pa Reuben Fasoranti, of the group took divergent positions

While the nonagenarian Fasoranti backed President Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid, Adebanjo, on the other hand, supported Labour Party’s Peter Obi from Anambra, insisting that it was only fair that the Igbo should be allowed to produce the President.

Since then, discordant tunes have been emanating from Afenifere.

However, our correspondent learnt that Makinde is working with Afenifere to resolve the impasse in the organisation.

It was learnt that reconciliation meeting took place behind closed doors at the University of Ibadan Hotel in Ibadan.

As of press time, the details of the closed-door meeting were still sketchy, but The PUNCH reliably gathered that the meeting was centred on the unity of the Yoruba nation in general and Afenifere as an organisation in particular.

Makinde, who attended the meeting, confirmed to journalists that the meeting centred on reconciling the two factional leaders of Afenifere.

He, therefore, appealed to the two warring leaders to bury their hatchets for the progress and unity of the region.

Makinde said, “Well, we’re all aware of the issues between our two leaders and the leaders of Afenifere, Adebanjo, and Fasoranti. Partisan issues and elections have come and gone, and now we’re talking about the unity of the Yoruba race. And these frontline leaders of Afenifere thought it fit to come together and start the process of seeking unity in Yorubaland.

“We are starting with our two leaders to make sure that they come together, and we know that once they come together, we will also have the desired unity in Yorubaland.

“Whenever Yorubaland is united, Nigeria is united, and whenever you have issues and challenges in Yorubaland, they usually spiral into other parts of Nigeria. So, this is to demonstrate my support for the steps that are being taken and also to let them know that I’m committed to the unity of Yorubaland.”