The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has passed a vote of confidence on the leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, on Tuesday, urging the public to disregard any report annulling the office of the acting leader.
Recall that a faction led by Pa Reuben Fasonranti, in a communiqué, annulled the office of the acting leader of the group being occupied by Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
However, during a meeting at the country home of the leader, at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State, as contained in a communiqué signed by himself, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and the National Publicity Secretary, Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo, obtained by Parallel Facts, the social club of Yoruba reiterated the authenticity of his leadership.
During the meeting, the organization received reports of the visit of the delegation of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum to the government and people of Plateau State and the Middle Belt on the killings by terrorists in several parts of Plateau State on the eve of Christmas last year.
On security, the delegation lauded the effort of the Amotekun Security Corps for safeguarding the region while charging the government to equip the security outfit adequately.
The meeting also received updates regarding its delegation, headed by Deputy Leader Oba Oladipo Olaitan, which visited the government and people of Oyo State to address the recent Ibadan explosion.
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In the course of meeting, both the delegation and Governor Seyi Makinde acknowledged that the tragic incident was facilitated by the pseudo-Federal military constitution, which allows for the use of explosives of such magnitude in states without regulations by the state government.
Furthermore, the organization expressed condolences for the loss of two monarchs in Ekiti State due to recent kidnappings.
The communique part read, “The delegation, which was led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the Leader of Afenifere and Deputy Leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum included other leaders across the federation and received by the Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, traditional rulers, Leaders of Thought in Plateau State, and other parts of the Middle Belt. It was resolved by all that the country needed be urgently restructured as a true federation with a new constitution using the reports of the 2014 National Conference as minimum template. The imperative of State Police was emphasised in the overall security of the nation.
“The meeting further received reports of its delegation led by the Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan to the Government and people of Oyo State on the recent Ibadan explosion. The delegation and the host Governor Seyi Makinde noted that the unfortunate incident was made possible under the pseudo-Federal military constitution where explosives of that magnitude may be used in states without regulations by the state government.
“The Governor briefed the delegation on the activities of the Amotekun Security Corps. The delegation noted the immense contribution of the Amotekun initiative, commended and urged the governments of all South West states to fully equip the Corps in a greater proportion of weaponry than available to terrorists now ravaging our land.
“The Meeting was incensed by the activities of terrorists all over the country and its incursion into Yoruba land, the latest being the gruesome and sacrilegious murder of two Obas in Ekiti State. The Meeting noted the unfortunate kid gloves with which the Federal Government continued to treat Security matters and therefore called on the people to rise in their own defence stating that no action is illegitimate in self defence.
“ For the umpteenth time, the Meeting reiterated that Afenifere is the Yoruba interpretation of Action Group, a political party founded in 1951 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his colleagues on social welfarist ideology. The Group is constituted by those who subscribe to its ideology. Afenifere is thus not a Yoruba sociocultural group or social club of Yoruba.
“ The General Meeting as the highest organ, expressed the appreciation of Afenifere for the untiring activities of its leadership in line with the objectives and aspirations of its founding fathers. The Meeting thus resolved and passed a vote of confidence on Chief Ayo Adebanjo as the Leader and Oba Oladipo Olaitan as the Deputy Leader of the Organisation.”
The meeting approved the appointment of Mr. Alade Rotimi-John as Assistant Secretary General and Prince Justice Jadesola Faloye as Assistant National Publicity Secretary.