Fasoranti dismisses Obi endorsement, says Adebanjo will no longer host Afenifere meetings

Reuben Fasoranti, an elder statesman and notable figure in Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-political organisation, says he remains the leader of the group.

Fasoranti said this in an interview aired by IATV on Wednesday.

He also said there would be no more meetings at Adebanjo’s home, adding that the report that he stepped down as Afenifere leader was a “misrepresentation”.

“It was a misunderstanding and misinterpretation from some people who thought I was going senile and couldn’t comprehend,” he said.

“When I heard that, I reacted and the person who said that regretted saying so.”

Fasoranti added that the meetings of the group will be moved to Akure “as soon as the secretary and I put our heads together — and the leaders too”.

His remark comes days after Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), visited Afenifere leaders in Akure, during which Fasoranti prayed for him.

The position also contradicts that of Ayo Adebanjo, who is identified as the acting Afenifere leader.

Adebanjo, who was announced as acting leader of the group in 2021, recently said Afenifere would back Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

Speaking on the development, Fasoranti said Obi has not been endorsed by the group.

“We have not deviated from the same principle. We still stand for the good of the people,” he said.

“I didn’t retire from the leadership of Afenifere. I was misinterpreted. I am still the leader of Afenifere.

“Afenifere is not endorsing Obi. We are endorsing Jagaban (Tinubu). As you can see the trend, the following, the approval and the acceptability.

“Adebanjo cannot warn me not to welcome Tinubu. Adebanjo took a stand and I took a stand. We did not speak about Tinubu’s visit. It goes without saying that Jagaban is accepted and we approve of it. Obi has no stand in our mind at all.”