Obasanjo, Yoruba Leaders Put United Front Against 2019

Obasanjo, Yoruba Leaders Put United Front Against 2019

Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday met with some prominent leaders of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere.

Obasanjo was accompanied to the meeting which started at 10:40 am at the residence of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, in Lekki, Lagos, by his loyalists and associates, including Chief Abraham Akanle, Mr. Joju Fadairo, Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, Dr. Gbolade Oshinowo, Kenny Martins and Otunba Oyewole Fasawe.

Some of the Yoruba leaders in attendance included Prof. Akin Mabogunje, publisher of Tribune Newspaper, Mrs. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, Senior Pastor, Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare, an Afenifere chieftain and South-West Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Supo Shonibare and spokesman of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin.

Others are Second Republic Senator, Prof. Banji Akintoye, one time Secretary of Afenifere, Senator Femi Okunromu, elder statesman, Dr. Amos Akingba and Akin Oshuntokun

Former Governor of Ogun State and the Director General of the Atiku Campaign Organization, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, were also in attendance.

Speaking at the end of the meeting, Adebanjo said it is time Yoruba leaders reunited to stop what he called “dictatorial tendencies”.

“This is nothing more than the fact that Nigeria must move forward. All attempts to establish dictatorial tendencies in the country must be opposed.

 “What is important is that we have our common goal. We don’t have a candidate yet. Not yet. We must agree first, any difference among us must be settled.”

Also speaking, Bakare said though he has been one of the staunch critics of Obasanjo, it is time to move together because “things are not going the right way. That is all.”

Obasanjo has turned from a supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari into one of his fiercest critics, accusing him of bias and incompetence.

The former president also raised the alarm that the Buhari administration was planning to arrest and detain him on false charges, an allegation denied by the presidency.

His meeting with Yoruba leaders yesterday was the second in three months, as they put a united front ahead of the 2019 general elections.