Baba Adebanjo has turned Afenifere into his personal estate as Acting Leader ―Tinubu

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has criticized elder Yoruba statesman Pa Ayo Adebanjo over claims that pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere has endorsed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi.

Tinubu, in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council, stated that Adebanjo has turned Afenifere into his ‘personal estate’ as Acting Leader.

Tinubu insisted that, as an individual, Adebanjo cannot equate himself to Afenifere.

“Papa Ayo Adebanjo does not speak for Afenifere. He is free as an individual to support anyone he likes, in furtherance of his democratic right.

“We know for a fact that Baba has turned Afenifere into his personal estate as Acting Leader. We are also certain that there was no where Afenifere, as we know it, met and took a decision to adopt Peter Obi as a candidate for 2023 presidential election.

“We respect the age of Baba Adebanjo, but he cannot turn Afenifere into his personal franchise for any political alliance.

“We are very much aware that Baba Reuben Fasoranti, the real leader of Afenifere, had stated clearly that Pa Adebanjo has always been speaking for himself on many national issues using the name of the group.

“It is our well considered position that Pa Adebanjo cannot appropriate Afenifere. Baba is just an individual who is free to support any politician of his choice. As an individual, he cannot equate himself with the socio-cultural and socio-political organisation,” the statement read.

This platform does not think Pa Ayo Adebanjo is still an Acting leader of Afenifere. This is because Pa Reuben Fasoranti formally stepped down as national leader of the organisation in March 2021 and handed over to Pa Adebanjo as the new substantive leader of the group at the time.