Afenifere, the Pan –Yoruba socio-political group has denied endorsing the presidential bid of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, or any other aspirant for the 2023 presidential election.
The denial is coming against the backdrop of a statement issued by the leader of the South West Agenda, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, claiming to have secured the support of Afenifere for Tinubu when his group visited the erstwhile Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, on Tuesday.
But in a statement on Wednesday by its Director of Communications, Sola Lawal, Afenifere has denied endorsing any presidential aspirant.
Lawal stated in the statement that the group is still mourning the demise of its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, in whose honour the group had suspended all engagements.
The Afenifere also pointed out that the 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 visit to his Akure home.”
Afenifere added that it has temporarily halted all activities of the group in honour of Odumakin, who is still lying in the morgue.
“The Adeyeye foray into Afenifere space at this period of such a huge loss and intense mourning is disrespectful, insensitive and unwarranted.
“Being a former Afenifere top notch and in fact, Odumakin’s immediate predecessor in office as spokesperson for Afenifere, Adeyeye should cease all activities and join us in mourning at this trying times,” Lawal added.