From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
The pan Yoruba socio political organisation, Afenifere, has explained why it supported the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, just as it denied allegation of bribery levelled against some members of the organisation.
The faction of Afenifere led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo in a statement issued by its deputy leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan and the national publicity secretary, Prince Justice Faloye said the allegation was baseless and unfounded.
Mr. Abayomi Arabambi had raised an allegation against Afenifere and its leadership on the campaign funds of the LP during the 2023 general election, alleging that “the trio of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Akin Osuntokun and Sola Ebiseni, were also culpable as they committed financial infractions of over N600 million, which they retained in their private accounts and that of Afenifere accounts in general.”
The group, however, stated that “the decision to support the presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed and by constitutional imperative, the Labour Party, was driven by our historical and unwavering conviction for the peaceful and mutually beneficial corporate existence of Nigeria based on equitable treatment of its constituent nationalities and quality leadership to ensure her development as a federation.”
The statement read: “The appointment of some of our members at the National, South West zonal or state levels of the Campaign Council was accepted and undertaken as a clarion call to duty without the expectation and actual pecuniary rewards. Such assignments by the adhoc campaign council did not include routine duties of party officials like appointment of delegates, the failure and consequences of which cannot be responsibly put to Afenifere.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, neither Afenifere nor any of its members, particularly the Leader, Chief Adebanjo; Osuntokun or Ebiseni, the Director General and South West Coordinator respectively, mentioned in the statement, presented or have any account in which campaign fund is retained contrary to the reckless statement of Arabambi and we dare him and/or anyone in his company to pursue this irresponsible allegation even to its judicial conclusions.
“It requires not much education or unearned academic titles but an Omoluwabi pedigree to appreciate that such criminal allegations be backed by credible evidence, particularly against persons of no criminal records, including an accomplished statesman who committed his resources, time and uncommon energy, as a nonagenarian, mobilising Nigerians in conferences, campaign rallies, including resolution of crises created during and after the elections by Arabambi’s penchant for divisions and factions.
“It is not our intention to dabble into the internal affairs of the Labour Party, yet it is important to observe, as known to the public, that the claim of Arabambi signing off the press release as the National Publicity Secretary under Julius Abure’s chairmanship is inconsistent with the position of the latter who parades Obiorah Ifoh for the same office. In the same vein, the public is not unaware of the violent contention against the leadership of Abure for which Arabambi not only accused him of forgery but also led an invasion of the proceedings of the Court of Appeal to protest the recognition of Abure as party chairman during the hearing of the presidential election petition.
“These pervasive falsehood and irreconcilable contradictions even about his bio data, which facts are unhidden to the public, are clear diagnosis of a mind consistent with dishonesty which puts question on the credibility of the author and veracity of other clownish accusations in the press statement.
“Afenifere is unapologetically a socio-political organisation whose modus operandi is strict, open and verifiable. From its formation in 1951, we have deliberately and with clear ideological position, engaged in Nigerian politics either through formation of political parties like the Action Group, Unity Party of Nigeria, Alliance for Democracy or in collaboration with other political parties including the LP in the present instance.
“In this historic and principled patriotic duty to ensure a federation which works equitably for its diverse nationalities and citizens, Afenifere is neither strange to nor deterred by the shenanigans of even informed opponents not to mention paid agents and political irritants in their desperate and futile efforts to smear the organisation. We are beyond reproach,” the statement added.
