Former leader of Afenifere, Reuben Fasoranti, has said that the Yoruba socio-political group recognises Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s president-elect.
Fasoranti made this known in a statement released on Wednesday while also reacting to the suspension of two national officers of the group.
The officers, Jare Ajayi, the group’s national publicity secretary, and Abagun Kole Omololu, national organising secretary, were suspended for issuing an “unauthorised statement” against Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, chairman of the council of elders, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
The suspension was announced in a communiqué released at the end of the Afenifere monthly general meeting on Tuesday, but Fasoranti described the suspension as “null and void” and went on to explain that the duo were suspended for stating on behalf of Afenifere in which Tinubu was congratulated.
According to Fasoranti, Afenifere could not have asserted that someone other than the person declared by the body duly authorized by the Constitution and other extant laws of the land, is the winner of the presidential election held on February 25, 2023, in Nigeria. He further stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Tinubu as the winner of the said election.
“Our national publicity secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi, issued a congratulatory message to the president-elect after he had been issued a certificate of return by INEC,” Fasoranti said.
The former Afenifere leader also noted that the suspension of the duo was a violation of natural justice and the law of the land, stating that the organisation could not just wake up and pronounce some officials removed and suspended without telling them what their offences are and without giving them the opportunities to defend themselves.
“Such a step is not only against natural justice; it is also in clear defiance of the law of the land. Afenifere believes in the rule of law and in the fundamental rights of all, including the right to a fair hearing. For these and other reasons, the purported removal and suspension are null and void,” he added.
The full statement reads below:
“My attention has been drawn to the Communique purportedly issued after a meeting that held on Tuesday, March 27, at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State. This statement is being issued because of the content of the said document.
“Section 2.02 of the document claims that “the results of the lawful votes at the Presidential election available to the Afenifere through credible sources confirm that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, won the said election.
“Afenifere could not have asserted that someone, other than the person declared by the body duly authorized by the Constitution and other extant laws of the land, is the winner of the presidential election held on February 25, 2023 in Nigeria.
“The body mandated to conduct elections in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after the completion of this year’s presidential election on February 25th, has declared the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the winner of the said election.
“Our national publicity secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi, issued a congratulatory message to the president-elect after he had been issued a certificate of return by INEC.
“This was cited as an “uncouth activity” by the communique mentioned above which further stated that Abagun and Ajayi were suspended sine die pending further decisions after their appearance before and recommendations by the disciplinary committee.
“Meaning that the two were pronounced guilty and consequently sanctioned even before their appearance before a disciplinary committee.
‘This type of position is alien to us in Afenifere which does not conduct itself as an agent of the state let alone as an electoral umpire.
“We accept the results of the elections at all levels as declared by INEC until otherwise decided by competent courts in the land.
“At no time was any of these officials reported to me as doing anything against what Afenifere stands for or doing anything against the interests of our race, the Yoruba.
“Thus, at no time was I informed that they were queried, warned, or sanctioned for conducting themselves in a manner contrary to what Afenifere or the Yoruba stand for.
“Being an organisation that believes in justice and fairness, being an organisation that always maintains that those at the helms of affairs should follow the rule of law, Afenifere, our organisation, cannot just wake up and pronounce some officials removed and suspended without telling them what their offences are and without giving them the opportunities to defend themselves.
“Such a step is not only against natural justice; it is also in clear defiance of the law of the land. Afenifere believes in the rule of law and in the fundamental rights of all, including the right to a fair hearing. For these and other reasons, the purported removal and suspension are null and void.”
