Ahead of next year’s general election, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has waved off comments credited to Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, to the effect that the Yoruba socio-cultural body has adopted Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party, as its choice candidate for 2023.
Asiwaju Tinubu, writing through Bayo Onanuga, Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, said Pa Adebayo cannot impose his personal preference and opinion on Afenifere.
Stressing that the elder statesman is free as an individual to support whosoever he wishes in a democratic dispensation, Tinubu said such position cannot be foisted on the people.
He maintained that Pa Adebayo has of late turned Afenifere into a personal estate, stressing however that Afenifere has not taken any decision to adopt any candidate.
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The statement issued by the campaign reads: ‘Papa Ayo Adebanjo does not speak for Afenifere. He is free as an individual to support anyone he likes, in furtherance of his democratic right.
‘We know for a fact that Baba has turned Afenifere into his personal estate as Acting Leader. We are also certain that there was nowhere Afenifere, as we know it, met and took a decision to adopt Mr. Peter Obi as a candidate for 2023 presidential election.
‘We respect the age of Baba Adebanjo, but he cannot turn Afenifere into his personal franchise for any political alliance
‘We are very much aware that Baba Reuben Fasoranti, the real leader of Afenifere, had stated clearly that Pa Adebanjo has always been speaking for himself on many national issues using the name of the group.
‘It is our well considered position that Pa Adebanjo cannot appropriate Afenifere. Baba is just an individual who is free to support any politician of his choice. As an individual, he cannot equate himself with the socio-cultural and socio-political organisation.’
On his part, the National Chairman of Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has cleared the air on rallies held in parts of the country in support of the party’s presidential flag bearer, Peter Obi.
