The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has quashed the office of its Acting Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, as part of the move to reposition the foremost Southwest group.
The Independent Mirror reported that Chief Adebanjo became the acting leader of the group after the patriarch of the apex socio-political organisation, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, stepped down from the position, citing old age.
At a meeting held on Wednesday at the Ijapo residence of Fasoranti in Akure, the Ondo state capital, the leaders of the group unanimously moved the motion to abrogate the dual positions of the acting leader and deputy leader.
The motion, which was first moved by Dr. S.J Ibikunle from Ogun State, was later seconded by the members of the group from Ekiti, Kwara, Oyo and Ondo States.
They, however, declared that the responsibilities and authority of advising the leader of the group would now be vested in the Afenifere Elders Caucus.
“In the light of recent events and the pressing need to reposition and rejuvenate Afenifere, it has been decided as follows: the position of Acting Leader and Deputy Leader have now been abrogated.”
“The responsibilities and authority of advising the Leader Afenifere and Asiwaju Yoruba are now vested in the Afenifere Elders Caucus which is hereby constituted,” they said.
However, in a statement issued to reporters after the meeting by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the organisation reiterated its call for an urgent need to rework the security architecture of the country to ensure that Nigerians can live and move about without fear of being kidnapped or harassed.
While reinforcing its call for the restructuring of the country, Afenifere therefore urged President Bola Tinubu to set the machinery in motion for the development of the zones.
The group took note of the fact that the President, a known democrat and federalist would not hesitate to do things that will quicken the country’s quest for true federalism in which people would have self-determination within the context of one nation that is genuinely democratic and federal.”
