Fasoranti resigns as Afenifere leader!

The leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has resigned his position as the leader of the group.

The octogenarian, who assumed the position after the demise of Chief Abraham Adesanya, said he took the decision because of the disunity among members of the group. This, he said, had made it difficult for Afenifere to actualise its goals. According to Punch.....Read on...

This was contained in a letter he addressed to the Secretary-General of the group, Chief Seinde Arogbofa, and other leaders, including Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Pa Lanihun Ajayi, Chief Olu Falae, Chief Supo Sonibare and all the state chairmen of Afenifere on Sunday. Read on....

The letter partly read, “Over the years, Yoruba have tried to focus on a common goal. The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo tried to ensure the oneness of our people with a lot of efforts, notwithstanding he faced a lot of challenges in the process. Unfortunately, he passed on without actualising this dream.

“The mantle of leadership fell on the late Pa Adekunle Ajasin and subsequently on Pa Adesanya and then my humble self. As events have been unfolding in the past few years, the focus and goals of the founding fathers of our great organisation Afenifere have been gradually eroded.

“This, therefore, made it a Herculian task for our members to work in unity. Several efforts were made to ensure the actualisation of the Afenifere’s goals, but it appeared that we have not succeeded in achieving this. This is basically due to reasons best known to our members individually.

“Considering my age, efforts and selfless dedication to my country, my state (Ondo), my political parties, my past leaders and my members in Afenifere both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, I hereby wish to inform you all that I have decided to step aside as the leader of our great organisation, Afenifere.”

In spite of his resignation, Fasoranti said he still maintained that the recommendations of the national confab’s report should be implemented. This, according to him, had been the goal of the group, stressing that “the support for a leader who promised to implement this report was not a mistake and inevitable despite all public insinuations.”

When contacted on the telephone, the Secretary-General of the group, Chief Sehinde Arogbofa, said he had not received the resignation letter from his leader as of the time of filing this report.

He, however, added that if that was his (Fasoranti) decision, “ it is not a strange thing “

“ I met Baba (Fasoranti) two days ago before I traveled, he did not discuss anything of such with me. Until I see him, I don’t know what to say, but it is not strange that the Afenifere leader is handing over. The late Chief Abraham Adesanya also did it.”