A leading chieftain of the Yoruba apex social-political organization, Afenifere, Senator Femi Okurounmu has revealed how National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, and factional leader of Afenifere, Ayo Fasanmi have been betraying Yoruba people.
Okurounmu said that when herdsmen were on rampage in Yorubaland maiming and killing innocent farmers on their farms, nobody heard Tinubu and Ayo Fasanmi utter a word.
The former lawmaker maintained that Afenifere is not polarized but still much intact.
According to him, “There is only one Afenifere, and that authentic Afenifere is the one being led by Chief Reuben Fasoranti to which Chief Adebanjo, my humble self and other progressive elements and eminent Yoruba belong to.
“This Afenifere group is the one that genuinely serve the interests of Yoruba people.”
Okurounmu, who spoke in an interview with Sun, insisted that “The group being led by Ayo Fasanmi is a renegade group. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State created this group and Fasanmi and other few rebellious elements that belong to this group are Tinubu’s puppets.
“Tinubu is their political master and leader, and they are always serving Tinubu’s interests and not Yoruba interests.
“You can only hear Ayo Fasanmi, a 94-year -old man speaking out only when Tinubu’s interest is involved.
“You will never see Ayo Fasanmi utter a single word when Yoruba interests are involved.
“How many Nigerians even know Ayo Fasanmi. Does his name even ring a bell like that of Fasoranti and Pa Ayo Adebanjo?
“On several occasions in the past and even in recent time where Yoruba’s interests are threatened or where Yoruba are being persecuted, it is only the authentic Afenifere under Pa Reuben Fasoranti that has been speaking out defending Yoruba interests.
“Few instances will suffice here. About two years ago when some Hausa and Fulani were killing Yoruba people in Ile-Ife, was it not Afenifere led by Fasoranti that spoke out and defended Yoruba interests?
“Another instance of Tinubu and Ayo FAsanmi’s betrayal of Yoruba people was when herdsmen were on rampage in Yorubaland maiming and killing innocent farmers on their farms.
“Did anybody hear Tinubu and his puppet Ayo Fasanmi talking? No, they kept quiet because Fulani herdsmen involved in killing Yoruba farmers were kinsmen of Buhari, an ally of Tinubu.
“Rather than speaking out against this evil for posterity sake, 94 year old Ayo Fasanmi kept quiet because he wanted to please Tinubu.
“Fasanmi at his age when he should speak out the truth kept quiet. He didn’t want to offend Tinubu the man who is sponsoring him and his group.
“Even when Chief Olu Falae was kidnapped on his farm by these Fulani herdsmen, Tinubu and Pa Ayo Fasanmi didn’t utter a word of condemnation because President Buhari, his friend’s kinsmen were involved.
“How then would any rational person refer to Fasanmi and Tinubu as genuine Yoruba leaders? Ayo Fasanmi is an impostor. Since 2003, he and some renegade members of Afenifere have pulled out of the organization at Tinubu’s prompting and since then Tinubu has been using Ayo Fasanmi as a willing political tool to serve his personal interests.
“Afenifere as a group has come a long way starting from the days of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the 40s. The group under Awolowo first started as Egbe Omo Oduduwa before it became Afenifere later, still under the leadership of Chief Awolowo.
“But after Awolowo’s death, other prominent and eminent Yoruba that have led the group include late Chief Adekunle Ajasin and late Pa Abraham Adesanya. It was after Adesanya’s death that Pa Reuben Fasoranti emerged as Afenifere leader, and he still remains the bona fide and authentic Afenifere leader.
“Nigerians should disregard Ayo Fasanmi. Fasanmi is Tinubu’s creation and puppet. Tinubu uses him for his personal and political interests.”
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