The Yoruba mainstream Afenifere groups have scheduled a meeting for Ibadan, on Thursday. Afenifere witnessed its first major division in 1999 and its second in 2004. The group is currently split into Afenifere and Afenifere Renewal Group, (ARG)
Sources close to the organisers said that the summit will be chaired by Senator Banji Akintoye, 81, a Professor of history, a confidant of late Obafemi Awolowo who left the country on exile in 1991 for the United States. Prof Akintoye was a Senator under the Unity Party of Nigeria, (UPN) from 1979 to 1983 before the government was overthrown by the military headed by General Muhammadu Buhari.
A source said the kidnap of former Presidential aspirant, Chief Olu Falae, a member of Afenifere was one of the impetuses that spurred the meeting. This is apart from the fact that the emergence of Buhari, in spite of the critical role played by the Yoruba people, has seen the resurgence of Fulani hegemony disguised in the form of a renaissance to reclaim Nigerian’s economic and political decline.
“The meeting is aimed at uniting the mainstream Yoruba people. This task will be achieved greatly if the two Afenifere groups are united. I think the region is coming to realize that they either stand in unity or fall in disunity” Dr Mobolaji Ojo, an official of O’odua National Coalition (ONAC) who is privy to the summit said.
He hinted that the Yoruba leaders expected at the summit will be drawn from Afenifere and the splinter group, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG). Prominent leaders expected at the summit are chief Olanihun Ajayi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Hon Wale Osun, General Alani Akinrinade, Mr Ayo Afolabi, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Senator Sola Adeyeye and the governors of the six southwest states. The Itsekiri, will be represented by Chief (Mrs) Rita Lori Ogbebor, Chief Fred Agbeyegbe and Dr Lucky Akaruse.