Afenifere Suspends Spokesman, 1 Other Over ‘Unauthorised Statements’

Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere has suspended the national publicity secretary, Jare Ajayi and national organising secretary, Akogun Kole Omololu, for “uncouth activities and unauthorised statements in its name and to the constant denigration of the organisation.”

Afenifere dissociated itself from any statement against Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in a viral video alleging indictment of the Yoruba as political rascals.

In a communiqué issued after its monthly meeting, a copy of which was made available to LEADERSHIP, Afenifere said the message credited to Iwuanyanwu was based on account of ethnic violence deployed by politicians of the ruling party in Lagos State.

Afenifere in the communiqué which was signed by the leader of the group, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and the secretary-general, Chief Sola Ebiseni, noted that the analysis of the video and information at the disposal of the group by people at the Anambra State gathering, the group was convinced that Iwunayanwu rightly asserted that the Yoruba and Igbo were not at war and truly condemned the shenanigans of some political rascals.

According to the communiqué, “Afenifere re-asserted that for equity, fairness, national cohesion, and peaceful corporate existence, the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be a person of its southern part and specifically the South-East.”

The group condemned in the strongest terms, “The campaigns of calumny and acts of ethnic violence deployed by some politicians and their hired criminal gangs in several parts of the federation during the gubernatorial election, particularly Lagos State.”

The group said the Lagos State election was made to appear like,” an inter-ethnic war between the Yoruba and Igbo  which greatly led to voters’ suppression and other forms of deliberate disenfranchisement through brigandage.”

On the suspended officers, the group disclosed that, “ After due consideration of the unending embarrassing conduct of the two officers, the meeting resolved that they be and are hereby removed immediately from their respective offices and their membership be suspended sine die pending further decisions after their appearance before and recommendations by the Disciplinary Committee.”

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The communiqué reads,” We restate our position that by the hallowed Yoruba culture of civilized conduct, Afenifere assures all person resident in Yorubaland, indigenes, and non-indigenes, of protection in the conduct of their lawful duties and thus warn all threats mongers and merchants of violence to desist therefrom.

“Express our belief in the judiciary as an integral part of the democratic process and expect that it proves itself in the election litigations now pending before it without fear or favor and by the judicial oaths of its members, in covenant with the Nigerian people.

“Call on the president and government of Nigeria to restore the patriotic confidence and hope of the Nigerian people in the continued corporate existence of the federation which will guarantee their safety throughout Nigeria.

“Appreciate the genuine and renewed interests of the international community in the security and democratic health of Nigeria and urge that as a prominent member of the global community, the affairs of Nigeria should continue to be of concern to the world.