Posted by By Abiodun Onafuye on
Chairman of Afenifere, the yoruba socio-political group, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, has declared that the spirits of the founding fathers of the group are with him in his onerous task to move the yoruba race forward.
Chairman of Afenifere, the yoruba socio-political group, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, has declared that the spirits of the founding fathers of the group are with him in his onerous task to move the yoruba race forward.
Speaking with P.M.News after his ratification as the new leader of the group, at Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun state, the home town of its former leader, Pa Abraham Adesanya, the septuagenarian stated: 'It seems that as I stood up, I saw Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Pa Adekunle Ajasin and Pa Abraham Adesanya around me. The feeling of their presence around me will spur me on to perform and surpass Pa Adesanya.
'I give thanks to the everlasting God who has made today a reality. I have been in the acting capacity for the past four years and I got the confirmation today. I promise to continue from where my predecessor, Pa Adesanya, stopped.'
Commenting on the factional group in Afenifere, the Ondo state-born Afenifere leader said: 'We have been trying to bring them back into the fold, but they have not been responding. Several meetings have been called in the past but they failed to turn up. I can assure you that my first duty is to mend all the cracks in the group, as that would enable us move forward.
'I am not fighting with anybody. I have dealt with difficult people and people have promised to work with us, but at the end of the day, they turned their back on us.
'It is not a new thing. Chief Awolowo experienced same. Pa Ajasin and Pa Adesanya also experienced the same thing but in the end, they agreed with their ideologies. I will set up machinery to see that the crisis rocking the group is settled. I assure you of that.'
Another yoruba leader, who was at the occasion, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, promised to give total support to the new leader so as to lead the yoruba race to the promised land. Adebanjo condemned the view of some people, who are claiming that the group has become a PDP group.
The Ijebu chief said: 'We will never succumb to pressures. The group is not a PDP group. Many of us are from different political parties and are of different political affiliations, which has nothing to do with Afenifere.
'The group is a socio-cultural group that is out to protect the interest and rights of the yoruba people. There is no iota of truth in the fabricated rumour. We are still on the track laid by Chief Awolowo, polished by Pa Ajasin and Pa Abraham Adesanya. No cause for alarm'.
General Secretary of the group, Senator Femi Okuronmu, said the choice of Chief Fasoranti, as the new leader, was informed by his leadership qualities.
The motion to adopt the septuagenarian was moved by the president of Apapo Omo Odua, Baba Omojola, from Lagos state and was seconded by Senator Lere Adebayo, from Osun state. It was unanimously supported with a thunderous applause from all members present at the congress, which was the first in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun state, after the demise of Pa Abraham Adesanya.
Members of the factional group, Afenifere Renewal group, including Wale Oshun, Yinka Odumakin and Wale Adebanwi, have vowed not to have anything to do with the new leader.