The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has denied endorsing the purported presidential ambition of a National leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, or any aspirant for the 2023 presidential election.
The group said it is presently bereaved following the death of his Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, and it will be quite insensitive of its leadership to be talking about political alignment or endorsement at this time.
The Yoruba socio-political group said it has suspended all its engagements in honour of its deceased member and has no time for political shenanigans while the mourning lasts.
Afenifere made said this in reaction to a statement making the rounds that its leadership has endorsed Tinubu for 2023 presidential election.
The statement, credited to Prince Dayo Adeyeye who is leader of Tinubu southwest political group, claimed that his group secured the support of Afenifere for its candidate during a visit to Pa Reuben Fasoranti, erstwhile Afenifere leader, yesterday.
However, Afenifere denied endorsing any candidate in a statement by its Director of Communications, Sola Lawal, titled, ‘Afenifere denies endorsing presidential aspirant’, on Wednesday.
Lawal 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”.
“The Adeyeye foray into Afenifere space at this period of huge loss and intense mourning is disrespectful , insensitive and unwarranted,” Lawal added.
“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.”
