Adebanjo Is The Reason Afenifere Is In Sorry State — Fasoranti

A former leader of Afenifere, Reuben Fasoranti, has accused his successor, Ayo Adebanjo, of being responsible for the “sorry state” of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation.

Speaking at a meeting of the group at Fasoranti’s residence in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Fasoranti stated that the organisation needs “urgent restoration”.

He stated that Adebanjo had led Afenifere away from its core values of consultation, brotherliness, and camaraderie and the traditional process of conducting the business of the organisation.

He said: “Since I appointed my brother, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and Oba Oladipo Olaitan as acting leader and deputy leader, respectively, about three years ago, a lot has happened. Among these is the fact that many of us have added more years to our lives.

“While we have been blessed in many ways by the almighty God, it is also on record that we have lost some of our people. We commiserate with the families of those concerned while we pray for the rest of us to enjoy the grace of God for many more years and many more decades for the younger ones in our midst.

“In addition to these, a noticeable drift away from our core values of consultation, brotherliness, and camaraderie and traditional process of conducting the business of the organisation, upon which our collegial system of leadership is based, has been severely threatened.

“This threat has been further exacerbated by more recent events, culminating in a fracture of the traditional backbone of the organization. I am sorry to say, without mincing words, that our organization is in a sorry state and requires urgent restoration effort to steer it away from the current trajectory.”

The elder statesman stated that he is sad and disappointed at the turn of events in the organisation, adding that necessary resources to revamp the organization are being depleted.

He added:  “I appointed the acting leader and deputy leader. And to say that I am sad and disappointed at the turn of events is an understatement. I am particularly disturbed because unless we take urgent remedial action, the future looks very bleak, and the necessary resources to revamp our organization are being depleted by the day.

“I have called you here today, therefore, as leaders and responsible members of this organization, to challenge you. Yourself to find a lasting solution to the current impasse. I implore you to engage frankly and honestly in the spirit of comradeship and mutual respect for which we are well known and upon which this organization is founded.

“With determination and commitment, I believe you are all able to find a solution that will propel Afenifere to greater heights. I wish you fruitful and successful deliberations.

“To facilitate the bridging of the gap which has become apparent among us in the centre, I have asked Kabiyesi the Olu of Ilu Abo, Oba Olu Falae though retired from Politics and has become inactive as one of our leaders in recent times to come and preside at this meeting. I hope you will all cooperate with him in finding a way forward for the organization.”