The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has suspended its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, and National Organising Secretary, Akogun Kole Omololu, for “uncouth activities and unauthorized statements” in the group’s name. The group, in a communiqué issued after its monthly meeting and signed by Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Sola Ebiseni, the Leader and Secretary-General, respectively, condemned the two officers’ “embarrassing conduct.” The suspension is pending further decisions after their appearance before the Disciplinary Committee.
Afenifere dissociated itself from any statement against Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in a viral video alleging indictment of the Yoruba as political rascals. The group noted that the analysis of the video and information at the disposal of the group convinced it that Iwunayanwun rightly asserted that the Yoruba and Igbo were not at war and truly condemned the shenanigans of some political rascals. The group re-asserted that the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be a person from the southern part of Nigeria, specifically the South-East.
The group also condemned in the strongest terms the campaigns of calumny and ethnic violence deployed by some politicians and their hired criminal gangs during the gubernatorial election in Lagos State, which led to voter suppression and other forms of deliberate disenfranchisement through brigandage. Afenifere described the election as “an inter-ethnic war between the Yoruba and Igbo.”
Afenifere called 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 would guarantee their safety throughout Nigeria. The group expressed its belief in the judiciary as an integral part of the democratic process and expects it to prove itself in the election litigations now pending before it without fear or favor.
Afenifere appreciated the genuine and renewed interests of the international community in the security and democratic health of Nigeria and urged that as a prominent member of the global community, the affairs of Nigeria should continue to be of concern to the world. The group also restated its position that, by the hallowed Yoruba culture of civilized conduct, it assures all persons resident in Yorubaland, indigenes, and non-indigenes, of protection in the conduct of their lawful duties and warns all threats mongers and merchants of violence to desist therefrom