The Pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere has reiterated its decision not to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s general election.
The group in a communique issued on Monday after its general meeting in Akure signed by its leaders, Pa Fasoranti, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olu Falae and Senator Femi Okurounmi, said Vice President Yemi Osibanjo is against the interests of the Yoruba nation and therefore did not deserve their support.
The communique reads, “Osinbajo is hanging on the Fulani to work against Yoruba interest when our people are getting killed in their farms by Fulani herdsmen Osinbajo did not say anything.
“When we are talking about restructuring , Osinbajo is arguing against restructuring and all the Yoruba want is restructuring , so when Osinbajo is working against restructuring, he is not for Yoruba people
“That a person is your son does not mean you support him when he is working against your interest. Osinbajo is working against the interest of Yoruba and our support for Atiku is not the question of Yoruba or Igbo or Hausa but about somebody that believes in what Awolowo believed in which is federalism. We advise all Yoruba to come out and vote for Atiku.
“So we cannot support APC because of Osinbajo who has turned himself to the enemy of Yoruba.
“That the Atiku endorsement is based on the following reasons; shared commitment to restructuring Nigeria to guaranty true federalism, need to promote the feelings of inclusiveness and sense of belonging amongst Nigerians and promote much desired national patriotism and unity”.
The group flayed the purported endorsement of president Muhammadu Buhari by a faction led by senator Ayo Fasanmi describing them as desperate.
“These pretenders are doubtlessly not Afenifere members but, as usual, only dubiously seeking to exploit the goodwill and reputation of Afenifere to market their bad political product.
“Their desperation in this regard is exemplified in the fraudulent printing of campaign posters in the name and picturing Ambassador Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu as endorsing Buhari and Osinbajo, which she has since disclaimed” they said.
Afenifere leaders had a fortnight ago joined their counterparts from Ohaneze, Middle Belt Forum, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and Northern Elders Forum in endorsing the candidature of Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate.