Basorun Sehinde Arogbofa, the former Secretary-General of the pan-Yoruba sociopolitical organisation Afenifere, has validated the position of the organization’s global leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, regarding the victory of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election.
Prior to the election, the leadership of the group was divided over the candidates, with Fasoranti and other Afenifere leaders supporting Tinubu and the National Leader of the association, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, supporting the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
Read Also Hope Uzodinma Sacks Popular Commissioner. See details
Fasoranti sent Tinubu a congratulatory message after Tinubu was declared the winner of the poll. However, Adebanjo’s group recently condemned the outcome of the presidential election, declaring that Obi was the winner.
Arogbofa stated on Saturday that the position of Fasoranti regarding Tinubu’s victory was the same as that of Afenifere. The statement was titled, “On some reactions by some Afenifere members to Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu‘s presidential victory.”
The declaration read, “Chief Dr. R.F. Fasoranti is still alive and well. According to Afenifere custom, he remains the leader of Afenifere. In accordance with our cherished Yoruba culture, we defer to him. Therefore, what any other member says or does after he has spoken or acted is irrelevant.”
“In an interview, I admitted that some Afenifere members were pushing Peter Obi as the party’s presidential candidate, but I emphasised that Afenifere members are not robots.” They consist of intelligent individuals with strong convictions who occasionally hold divergent opinions. Despite this, they are bound together by the association’s philosophy of welfare.
On any contentious issue, they convene as democratic representatives to discuss and reach a consensus. While the majority decision becomes their official position, those who disagree are permitted to maintain their opinions without necessarily forming an opposition position.
“I concluded by stating that if elections are held in 2023, the majority of Afenifere members and, by extension, the right-thinking, tolerant, and impartial Yoruba ethnic group will vote for Tinubu.”
He added, “On March 3, 2023, Chief R.F. Fasoranti sent a letter of congratulations to Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his hard-won victory in the presidential election on February 25, 2023. This was done in accordance with a well-known Afenifere custom. Here is where Afenifere is located. The oracle has spoken and acted. Any person or group with a different opinion is free to express it, just as he is free to exercise his liberty.
