For the second time in one week,another Yoruba group under the aegis of Odua descendants in Ibadan has called on acting leader of Afenifere,Chief Ayo Adebanjo to resign as acting leader of the group.
Ayo Adebanjo
The groups call is coming on the heels of a similar protest in Akure by a youth group in Afenifere.
In a press conference held in Ibadan before the rally on Thursday,the group led by Engineer Lai Gboluaje said the activities of the acting Afenifere leader of recent is against the interest and heritage of the Yoruba people.
Full statement below:
Afenifere youths protest in Akure, Say ‘Adebanjo Must Go’
TEXT OF THE SPEECH MADE AT A RALLY BY ‘OODUA DESCENDANTS’ IN IBADAN ON THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2023
E kaaro o, Omo Oodua. E kaaro o, gbogbo omo Naijiria. E ku asiko yii o ni gbogbo agbaye.
I greet you all in the name of us all, Oodua Descendants.
As is well known, Yoruba is a noble race. Our progenitor is that enigmatic, legendary and brave mystic, Oduduwa. We are his proud descendants.
Out of their vision for the future and commitment to the well-being of the Yorubas, our fathers established Egbe Omo Oduduwa. Later, Afenifere came on board. It was a fact that the nomenclature ‘Afenifere’ first came into wide circulation when Pa Adisa Akinloye described Action Group as Afenifere, Egbe ti n fe ire fun tolori telemu. Afenifere, for emphasis, is a concept and philosophy meant to drive all that will protect the interests of Yoruba race, promote same and envision a good future for the race.
This is why we are appalled by what the Acting Leader of the organization, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has turned our noble heritage, Afenifere, into in recent times. His open hostility against Yoruba interests on political, economic and social arena is not what should come from any reasonable Yoruba person not to talk of a person who is supposed to lead the foremost Yoruba organization, even if in an acting capacity.
We waited up till this time in the hope that Pa Adebanjo will change his stance, especially after the conclusion of the last elections. But rather than relenting, the 95 year old Grandpa is still vehement in his hostility against Yoruba interests.
We need to state here clearly that we do not come here under the auspices of any political group or interest. Neither were we sponsored by anybody or group. The motivation for us to be here is to ensure that our immediate interest and the interests of our children are not subjugated by those who are supposed to protect same. We notice for instance what was playing out in Lagos and what played out in Ilorin during the era of Aole and Alimi. We don’t want such to happen again.
Afenifere is a heritage of us, Yorubas. It cannot be appropriated by any single individual or a group of individuals. Afenifere has principles, philosophy and procedures. We watched with utter dismay, disappointment and sadness how these noble ideas have been bastardised at least in the last one year or so. Noble ideas bequeathed to us by the Founding Fathers of our Afenifere!
We can no longer fold our arms and watch our noble heritage going into the mud. If we did, the likes of Pa Awolowo, Pa Ajasin, Pa Adesanya, Pa Ige etc will not forgive us. More importantly, what would we be handing over to our own children?
These, and more, are the reasons why we come out to say that Pa Fasoranti should take back the mantle of Leadership of Afenifere. Rejig it for us and let it revert to the original philosophy guiding it. The philosophy of putting Yoruba First in ideas, thoughts and actions.
We call on our darling Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to, in concert with his fellow Governors in Yorubaland, prevail on Pa Adebanjo to step aside so that Afenifere can return to its original mode and move Yorubaland and Nigeria forward.
Since Chief Ayo Adebanjo has subverted the basic principle of ‘Yoruba First’ and since he feels that non Yoruba person or persons would serve Yoruba interests better, he has proven to be incapable of leading Afenifere or any other Group that has Yoruba interests at heart.
For these reasons and more, he must go. Pa Adebanjo must go NOW!
Engineer Lai Gboluaje Ms Adewumi Adediran
Co-ordinator Lady Co-ordinator
OODUA DESCENDANTS
Thursday, April 20, 2023
