Pa Fasoranti denies taking over Afenifere leadership, says Adebanjo remains the head

Leader of the Pan-Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has said Chief Ayo Adebanjo remains the group’s acting leader.

Fasoranti also said that the meeting of the group would continue to be held at Adebanjo’s country home, Ogbo-ljebu.
He was reacting to earlier reports quoting him as saying the leadership of Afenifere had returned to him.

This followedthe disagreement between him and Chief Adebanjo on the endorsement of two presidential candidates, Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.

A statement issued on Thursday by Pa Fasoranti’s Personal Assistant, Adedapo Abiola, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said that the reports were false.
The statement read, “It has come to Papa R.F. Fasonranti’s knowledge that some sections of the media, especially the social media, have been ascribing to him false statements designed to cause confusion and polarize Afenifere.
“I have Papa’s permission to say that he has not said that Chief Ayo Adebanjo is no longer the acting leader of Afenifere or that all future Afenifere meetings should henceforth be held at his residence in Akure.
“Papa’s main concern is the interest of the Yoruba in the complex political situation in Nigeria.”
“It is also his concern that Afenifere should survive in dignity and remain a purveyor of the interest of the Yoruba race.,”