The National Organising Secretary of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Kole Omololu, shares with PETER DADA his thoughts on some of the recent developments in the organisation and the way forward
The last presidential election seems to have divided Afenifere, how did things degenerate to its current state?
Afenifere is not divided; the leader of the organisation, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has released a statement congratulating the President-elect (Asiwaju Bola Tinubu). As it stands now, Pa Fasoranti remains the leader, while he delegated Pa Ayo Adebanjo to act on his behalf, which is in acting capacity. Hence, Pa Adebanjo is expected to clear issues with the leader and get his concurrence before making his pronouncements on any critical issue. That is according to the tradition of Afenifere.
Could you tell us more about the tradition?
Let me clear the air on some workings of Afenifere by giving you the history of the leadership. Afenifere does not operate like a conventional structure based on Western civilization. We are a very proud African indigenous race with our homegrown democracy before the pollution by colonial rulers. We operate by Olori ebi (head of the family) method, assisted by what we call ‘leader-in-council’. Like the king and the Oyo Mesi in the old Oyo Empire or the king and the Ijamas in other parts of Yorubaland, no king had the power to choose for the family the person to represent them at the Oyo Mesi or Ijama. It rested with the family. Decisions were taken in a collegiate manner. In 1951, Chief Obafemi Awolowo became the leader of Afenifere until his demise in 1987 when Chief Adekunle Ajasin took over. When Pa Ajasin was ill, Senator Abraham Adesanya chaired the meeting as the acting leader. Being the leader of Afenifere is for life. You don’t bury the king alive. So, all meetings must take place at the home of the leader until he dies. After the death of Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Senator Adesanya became the substantive leader, while Chief Bola Ige served as his deputy. So, our meeting moved to Ijebu Igbo, the country home of the new leader (Adesanya). Although we held our monthly caucus meeting in our office at Jibowu, Yaba, the leader-in-council met at the private home of the leader in Apapa. Senator Abraham fell ill and he appointed Chief Reuben Fasoranti as the acting leader. Meetings continued at the home of the leader (Adesanya) in Ijebu Igbo. Pa Adesanya died and the caucus proposed a motion to affirm Chief Fasoranti as the substantive leader. The motion was moved by the late Baba Omojola and I think it was seconded by His Excellency, Senator Adegbenga Kaka, a former deputy governor of Ogun State at the general meeting in Ijebu Igbo.
What is the current situation?
After a while, the meeting moved to Akure, the home of the leader (Fasoranti). At 95, Pa Fasoranti believed he needed an acting leader and a deputy to offload many activities onto others. He appointed Chief Ayo Adebanjo as the acting leader; and for the deputy leader, he appointed His Royal Highness, Oba Dipo Olaitan, a former Alliance for Democracy/Afenifere leader in the House of Representatives and former security adviser, cabinet status, to Alhaji Lateef Jakande when he was the governor of Lagos state. So, the controversy that Pa Fasoranti resigned does not arise. Like I said, the leader of Afenifere remains there till death, like an Oba sits on the throne till he dies.
Has Adebanjo, being the acting leader, sustained the tradition?
I won’t comment on that.
There have been conflicting statements from Adebanjo and Fasoranti in recent times, why is the group not having a united voice?
Pa Fasoranti is the leader of the Afenifere and his statement is the position of the egbe (organisation).
It has been the practice for the Afenifere to adopt a presidential candidate, how come both of them endorsed different candidates?
Pa Fasoranti blessed and prayed for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu when he visited him (Fasoranti) after he won the primary election of his party. On that occasion, Yoruba leaders from all tribes and states of the Yoruba nation and all political persuasions adopted Tinubu as the most competent person to support. It was widely publicised and a statement to that effect was released. To answer your question, given that Pa Fasoranti is a listening leader who knows that the ethos of Afenifere is of consultation, he consulted all the national leaders of Afenifere, he consulted opinion leaders, monarchs and religious leaders across Yorubaland. Remember, the leader of Afenifere is also by convention the leader of the Yoruba nation. After all the consultations, he saw the danger ahead like a former Labour Party British Prime Minister, Lord Leonard James CalIaghan, who was the Prime Minister from 1976 to 1979. His party was pursuing a policy of ‘unilateral nuclear disarmament’ in 1983 general elections, the British public was loving the propaganda, not realising the danger ahead, which was leaving the United Kingdom defenceless. The party foolishly did not realise that the deadly war arsenal was a war deterrent. James Callaghan addressed a press conference condemning his party’s position and policy. His party lost the election for the wider interest and protection of the British public. I believe this is Pa Fasoranti’s strategy.
In the last meeting of Afenifere, part of the resolutions was the suspension of the Publicity Secretary, Mr Jare Ajayi, and you. Could you tell us what happened?
The leader, Pa Fasoranti, has spoken, declaring the suspension null and void. And he gave his reasons. Mr Ajayi and I remain in our positions. The brief comment I will make is that the acting leader is a guru in the law profession; the deputy leader is an old member of the bar, the treasurer, Chief Supo Shonibare, has more than four decades at the bar, so also is the secretary general, who is a brilliant and eloquent lawyer. For them to disregard the rule of natural justice beats my imagination. Making themselves the accuser, prosecutor and the judge, Haba! The legal adviser to Afenifere, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was sidelined.
After your suspension, did you make efforts to resolve issues with the group and Adebanjo?
Afenifere is a heritage. No one can drive anybody away from it. Any Yoruba person who subscribes to the philosophy of Obafemi Awolowo, which is that of an egalitarian society, is an automatic member. People like me were born into it. My father was a 1951 Afenifere member who trekked 15 miles from Igbotako to Okitipupa to attend meetings. Our house was spared from burning during the Western Nigeria crisis of 1964 because they saw the symbol of the Afenifere/Action group – The palm tree – planted on top of my father’s storey building. I invested all my being in seeing the Egbe survive the crisis of wiping us off the political map of Nigeria after the 2003 elections. All those who came to Afenifere to use it for electoral victory ran away. It never occurred to me that I must sacrifice in return for political gains. My interest is a better society, Yoruba values, ethos and culture. My advert was the last to be placed in the National Concord in 1993 for MKO Abiola. I implored him to please address the following because I was already used to it abroad and I wanted my children to feel safe coming to visit me in Nigeria.
The simple provisions are potable water, uninterrupted electricity, good roads and welfare of the police. That is what I believe I can influence in government by being Afenifere.
In most instances, the head or the publicity secretary, and in some cases the National Secretary, speak on behalf of an organisation, why did you, the National Organising Secretary, take it upon yourself to issue the statements on the naira crisis and the election at the time you did?
A respected and long standing member of the organisation can speak on its behalf on any issue, let alone a national officer. In all, let me use this medium to appeal to the children of Oduduwa that a family squabble of this nature is not un-natural. Like they say in political parties, it is a family affair. Afenifere will be strong and vibrant as we used to know it. Just watch out.
Tinubu has been declared the winner of the presidential election, but going by the position of Adebanjo, does it mean Afenifere as a body is not happy with the development, going by the resolution of the last meeting?
Afenifere is happy with the victory of Tinubu as the President-elect and we have congratulated him. We are looking forward eagerly to his swearing-in and we are prepared to contribute to the success of his administration. We will present him with suggestions on how the security and welfare of our people can be improved and how the Nigerian economy can be made better. Our think tanks are already working. We and Asiwaju are from the same Obafemi Awolowo school of thought, we believe in the same philosophy called man-centered philosophy and a ‘welfarist’ approach to governance. He is a symbol of true federalism and devolution of power to the constituent units of Nigeria. He believes in state police and empowering the states to achieve their maximum potential. He wants every Nigerian to be proud of themselves. He wants a thriving and a vibrant democracy, a prosperous nation with an eye on a super industrial base. He wants a country with a robust economy where prosperity will be broadly shared. The first point of contact for foreign direct investment in Nigeria is Lagos. Thanks to Tinubu. Why will Afenifere be against such a leader? We fought together to achieve democracy in this country. He dared an army general, Ibrahim Babangida; he escaped from the late General Sani Abacha; he survived another army general, Olusegun Obasanjo, and he installed a Major General, Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), as the president. He is succeeding a General. He is a rare gift to Yorubaland.
Some people are insinuating an interim government few days to the end of this current administration, what do you make of it?
Interim government is not known to our constitution. The country does not need it. It is mischievous, even treasonable to think or express such under whatever guise. Afenifere was in the forefront of the struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria. We were against the interim government of IBB. We have supported candidates that lost elections in the past. In 1999, our party, the Alliance for Democracy, with erudite economist, Chief Olu Falae, as the candidate, lost. We didn’t ask the military to stay. We supported Buhari and Atiku in the past. When they lost, we didn’t call for an interim government. We are democrats. We will never back an unconstitutional action to truncate our hard-won democracy. The notion is evil and dangerous to our national well-being.
Nigeria is said to be in serious crisis economically, what is the way out?
The first thing to do is to commence action on restructuring the federation. We are aware it may not be possible to restructure all at once, but the next administration and the next National Assembly must work together on incremental restructuring.
A competent government is capable of resolving a lot of issues and redirecting the country to the path of progress. Do not forget that some of these problems are beyond Nigeria, because globally, people are hurting.
How do you think the next president can tackle these challenges, whether or not they are issues of global concern?
The first step I believe should be taken is to bring down the barriers that seek to divide us as a people. I am in agreement with the president-elect that a government of national competence is what is needed at this time to tackle the enormous challenges we are facing right now. A brilliant mind like Prof Kingsley Moghalu from the South-East or Kehinde Sogunle, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Ogun State, should be considered. Thankfully, the president-elect is known for his knack for spotting, engaging and empowering talents to solve problems. Let us wait, watch and pray that the best will come out of this incoming administration. Also, restructuring of the political and economic structure of the federation is key to the country’s progress.
With what was observed in the last general election, do you think Nigeria’s electoral system has improved?
The electoral system has greatly improved. This is without prejudice to the naysayers and those who would rather demonise whatever doesn’t suit their own agenda. The last election was an improvement on the previous ones. The BVAS has ensured that substantially the votes of people now count. It can only get better. Countries do not change in a day; it is by gradual and sometimes imperceptible changes. It is when you look back years later that you will realise how far we have gone. It is the same with human beings too. You barely notice when your little child is growing until one day they are taller than you. The BVAS malfunctioned in only nine per cent of the about 176,606 polling units. I learnt it was fixed and in another two per cent, it malfunctioned and was replaced. That means voting took place everywhere, except for the enemy of progress. About 88 per cent functionality rate is kudos.
What are your major expectations from the incoming administration?
After President Buhari’s administration, I expect and I’m also optimistic for a better restructured nation. This current administration has started, with the signed amendment to the constitution in the areas of devolving railways and electricity to the states among others. Restructuring, for me, is a critical issue that, if tackled, will resolve some of the critical discontent of the federating units and open up the economy for greater prosperity.
