Afenifere Crisis: Moves To Reconcile Adebanjo, Fasoranti Underway, Says Gov Makinde

Afenifere leaders has revealed that efforts are being made to bring the National Leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, and his predecessor, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, back together.

Following the meeting’s closed-door session, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde told reporters that the main goal of the gathering was to reconcile the two Afenifere leaders.

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The unity of the Yoruba nation and Afenifere as an organisation were at the focus of the closed-door meeting, the specifics of which were not made available to journalists.

Makinde urged the two feuding leaders to put their differences aside and called for the Yoruba race’s unity to take precedence over all other considerations, noting that politics had passed.

The 2023 presidential election saw backing for various candidates from each of the Afenifere leaders.

While Pa Adebanjo threw his weight behind Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, Fasoranti supported President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

But speaking on the proposed peace parley, Governor Makinde said: “We’re all aware of the issues between our two leaders, and leaders of Afenifere, Baba Ayo Adebanjo and Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

“Partisan issues and elections have come and gone and now we’re talking about the unity of the Yoruba race.

“And these frontline leaders of Afenifere, thought it fit to come together and start the process of seeking unity in Yorubaland.

“Starting with our two leaders to make sure that they come together and we know that once they come together we will also have the desired unity in Yorubaland.

“And if you put it in proper perspective, whenever Yorubaland is united, Nigeria is united and whenever you have issues and challenges in Yorubaland, it usually spirals into other parts of Nigeria so, this is to demonstrate my support for the steps that are being taken and also to let them know that I’m committed to unity in Yorubaland.”

While advising followers of the two prominent Afenifere leaders, the governor also said: “Once you tie the knot at the appropriate places, every other thing will fall in place.

“Once they see the two Babas come together, we won’t even need to appeal to the people because, at that time, you won’t have to talk much, people would have seen that the two leaders are now back together.”