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Afenifere berates Tinubu’s ally, ‘Your action disrespectful to Odumakin’
BY KAZIE UKO
The Yoruba socio-cultural and political group, Afenifere, has distanced itself from the purported endorsement of the presidential ambition of former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, by the group’s former leader Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
Afenifere described attempt by a Tinubu ally, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, to rope it into the Tinubu project at the time the group is mourning the shocking death of its Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, as unwarranted.
“The Adeyeye foray into Afenifere space at this period of huge loss and intense mourning is disrespectful, insensitive and unwarranted.
“Being a former Afenifere top notch and, infact, Odumakin’s immediate predecessor in office as spokesperson for Afenifere, Adeyeye should cease all activities and join us in mourning at this trying times,” Afenifere’s Director of Communications, Sola Lawal, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Lawal denied that his group was supporting the presidential bid of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader or any aspirant for the 2023 presidential election.
READ: Odumakin: Pray for me to survive this, my love is gone – wife weeps
Afenifere’s prompt and strong denial comes on the heels of a widely circulated statement by the leader of South West Agenda (SWAGA), Prince Dayo Adeyeye, purporting that his group secured the support of Afenifere for its candidate during a visit to Pa Reuben Fasoranti, erstwhile Afenifere leader, on Tuesday.
Lawal stated that the group is still mourning the demise of its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, in whose honour the group suspended all engagements.
Lawal also pointed out that 96-year-old Pa Fasoranti had taken a “deserved rest when he formally handed over to Chief Ayo Adebanjo three weeks ago after leading the group for 12 years and so the former couldn’t have spoken for Afenifere during the SWAGA visit to his Akure home.”
The group further said it has “temporarily halted all activities in honour of Odumakin who is still lying in the morgue, cold and lonely”.