Yoruba youth group passes vote of no confidence in Adebanjo

• Says leader causing crisis in Afenifere, asks him to step down
• Accuses him of flouting group’s tradition
• Fasoranti, Olajide call for calm, peaceful resolution of crisis
• They are faceless individuals, I don’t know their father, says Adebanjo

A Yoruba youth group, under the aegis of Yoruba Afenifere Youths Organisation of Nigeria (YAYON), yesterday, passed a vote of no confidence in the leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo.

The group advised Adebanjo to “kindly step down as the acting leader of Afenifere in the interest of the organisation and the entire Yoruba race.”
They made the call during a protest at the country home of the National Leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Leader of the group, Eric Oluwole, emphasised that Fasoranti is the authentic national leader of the mainstream Yoruba group.

The youths, armed with placards of various inscriptions, alleged that Adebanjo had since he became the acting leader, been taking decisions to soothe his political leanings.

He said: “We cannot allow one leader to mortgage our future. We cannot continue like this. The only person we recognise in this Yoruba nation is Pa Reuben Fasoranti as the National Leader of Afenifere, and he still remains the national leader of Afenifere.”

MEANWHILE, while speaking through his Chief Security Officer, Sunday Ogunkalu, Fasoranti, who sued for peace, assured the protesters that lasting solutions would be found to the crisis.

ALSO, the immediate past Secretary-General of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide, yesterday, called for calm and peaceful resolution of any issue anyone may have against Yoruba leaders.

Olajide, who spoke, while reacting to the protest and call for the removal of Adebanjo, said: “Whatever be the case, let us appeal to them to remain calm. Whatever issues they have with our elders must be resolved in a peaceful manner.

“They are our elders, we must use a peaceful approach.”

BUT when contacted over the development, Adebanjo said: “I don’t know them, and I have repeatedly said I don’t know their father. I don’t know their parents. They are only encouraging them to talk.”

“I have told you they don’t exist. I think some people just gathered them and gave them money to make them start talking as if something is happening in Afenifere.”