Obasanjo, Adams, Afenifere leaders discuss South-West security, other issues

Issues relating to the security situation in the South-West Nigeria and the interest of the people of the region were the focus of a meeting held in Lagos on Wednesday attended by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and leaders of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere.

The meeting held at the private home of Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, in Lekki, was also attended by the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, and Afenifere National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin.

Although it was learnt that the meeting was also called to reconcile former President Obasanjo and Gani Adams, Obasanjo said there was no rift between him and Adams to warrant any reconciliation.

The meeting, according to sources, was at the instance of Obasanjo to also discuss the future of Yorubaland following the rising wave of insecurity in the country.

Afenifere recently condemned the rising cases of insecurity in the region following the murder of a first-class traditional ruler in Ondo State, Oba Israel Adewusi.

Several kidnapping cases were last week recorded in the region with Afenifere calling for a rejig of the security architecture of the country.

Odumakin, who confirmed the meeting, said it was also to reconcile former President Obasanjo and Adams apart from the consideration of other issues found critical to Yoruba interests within Nigeria.

But Obasanjo in a statement in Abeokuta, Ogun State, by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, said there was no rift to warrant reconciliation between him and Adams in the first place.

He, however, admitted that he had issues with Adams’ past way of life “which was not in accord with my standards and principles.”

He also noted that he had refused to grant Gani’s request to visit him both in and out of government.