Fasoranti yields to Afenifere, retracts resignation

THE pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, rose from a meeting yesterday with a resolution rejecting the resignation letter of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, dated October 1, 2015.

After the meeting that lasted almost three hours in Chief Fasoranti’s Akure home, the Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, told newsmen that the leader has rescinded his decision.

He said following the decision to step aside by Fasoranti, the leadership of Afenifere met at his residence and after exhaustive deliberations, he was persuaded to desist from that line of action.

Odumakin said: “The meeting appreciates the selfless, dedicated and exemplary leadership, which Chief Fasoranti has given the group as the acting leader since 2004, and later substantive leader.

“We took cognizance of the fact that he took over leadership of Afenifere at the most challenging period in the country. In spite of his old age, he has discharged his duty creditably well; he has been a stabilising force of candour and character.

“The meeting therefore, unanimously resolved to reject his offer to step aside as leader; we pleaded with him to tarry and carry on in his responsibility as leader of Afenifere, and to ensure that the orderly succession of Afenifere is not disrupted under him.

“We are glad to inform you that after listening to the whole meeting, Chief Fasoranti, our leader graciously accepted to withdraw his letter of resignation and to continue his leadership of the group. “

According to him, Fasoranti saw the need to yield to the pressure so as “to see us through the moments ahead in terms of all the plans of reorganisation, reinvigoration, mobilisation and re-launch of Afenifere in Nigeria within the Yoruba land and in the diaspora.”

Odumakin said the leaders appreciated every Nigerian who has supported them in the past three days, affirming that “there is no crisis in Afenifere and the house of Oduduwa is well. No crack and we are forging ahead.”

“We enjoin all our supporters to remain fully committed to our core values of enthroning a just and democratic order based on true federalism within the Federal Republic of Nigeria and autonomy for the Yoruba region.”

The Afenifere chieftain noted that the core values have become necessities “so that life can be more abundant for our people and they can live a life of dignity, excellence and fulfilment which has been the goal of our founding fathers.”