Afenifere behind Falae’s Kidnap, Northern group alleges

The North East Solidarity Forum has accused the pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, of masterminding the recent kidnap of former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, with an intent to unsettle the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a communique issued at the weekend after its meeting in Bauchi, the group, accordingly asked the Federal Government not to allow the matter to lie low.
But reacting, the Afenifere, on
Sunday, described the allegation as ridiculous, wondering what it would gain by organising the kidnap of one of its leaders.
This is even as the leader of the pan Yoruba socio-political group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, on Sunday, resigned his appointment with immediate effect citing old age
Speaking to the Daily Times, spokesman of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, said “by the accusation, the North East Solidarity Forum has shown that it is suffering from mad cow disease”.
He said: “It beats imagination for any group to accuse the Afenifere of being behind the kidnap of Chief Olu Falae. How can Afenifere kidnap one of its own? What will be the benefit of such to Afenifere? Can any reasonable person believe such wild allegation coming from the so-called North East Solidarity Forum? In fact, the forum by the statement has shown its disdain to our people; it has shown that it has little or no remorse for the plight Chief Olu Falae suffered at the hands of those who kidnapped him, inflicted injuries on him and traumatised him.
“More importantly, the North East Solidarity Forum by the accusation has shown that it is suffering from mad cow disease and insensitive to the feelings of the Yoruba over the abduction of the former SGF. It is unfortunate that rather than hide its face in shame over an action perpetrated by members of its ethnic, the North East Solidarity Forum will be accusing Afenifere of being behind the recent kidnap of Chief Falae.”
Odumakin cautioned the group to refrain from statements that tend to cast aspersions on Afenifere, saying the Yoruba cannot be cowed by any group, the North East Solidarity Forum inclusive. “Afenifere will continue defend the interest of the Yoruba at all times irrespective of the position of any group,” Odumakin added.
Specifically, the North Est Solidarity Forum in the communique signed by its Coordinator- General, Usman Abdulkadir, suggested that the Buhari-led government should take Afenifere to task over the allegation so as to serve as a deterrent to others.
It however commended Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana and the Muslim Ummah of South West for condemning the secession threat by the Afenifere as an aftermath of the kidnap.
It would be recalled that the former SGF was abducted by some unknown persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, prompting the Afenifere to issue a secession threat if the trend was not halted.
The communique by the forum read: “The leadership of the North East Solidarity Forum at its meeting in Bauchi State on Saturday, October 31, 2015 commended the reactions by the erudite Lawyer and human right activist, Chief Femi Falana and the Muslim Ummah of South West, Nigeria for condemning the threat for secession by the Yoruba socio-cultural groups on the kidnapping of Chief Olu Falae.
“However, after a careful and thorough investigation on the conflicting security reports by the agencies that contradicted that of the family of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation on the kidnapping, we are forced to believe that the Kidnapping of Chief Olu Falae in the early hours of September 21, 2015 may have been masterminded by the Yoruba social cultural group to blackmail the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Nigerians will recall that after the failure of the military in 1998 to transmute to a democratic rule, the South West region of the country was the first to benefit from the democratic experience in two successful terms of 4 years each from 1999 to 2007 and at no time within this period did the Northern part of Nigeria threaten the stability and oneness of this country with such undue call for self-determination.
“Even after Chief Olusegun Obasanjo handed over in 2007 to the former Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and his demise in 2010, the Northern part of this country had maintained its stand on the stability of the country and always worked for the unity of all ethnic groups in Nigeria.
“The South West region of Nigeria in today’s administration still occupy a strategic position as the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the person of His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
“We are therefore pained with the plans by the Yoruba socio-cultural group to truncate our democracy by this heinous activities in resorting to kidnapping our elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae, to whip up sentiments and with the intent to derail our hard earned democracy.
“We want to once again condemn in its entirety the act of kidnapping or any other criminal activities in any part or region of the country irrespective of tribe or religion. And we wish to use this opportunity to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to rise to the occasion and address this ugly incidence by Afenifere to serve as deterrent to others.
“We are pleased with all the collective efforts we have made in the past to bring stability to our nation even in the face of threat to lives. We are now more determined than ever before to ensure the strengthening of our democracy and put to shame all agents of destabilization who are working to reverse all the gains we have made as a nation because of their selfish and personal ambition in 2019.”
Meanwhile, leader of the pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, on Sunday, resigned his appointment with immediate effect citing old age.
Pa Fasoranti took over the leadership of the group from the late Chief Abraham Adesanya over ten years ago.
According to a letter personally signed by him in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Pa fasoranti said he has since stopped being the chairman of Afenifere.
In the letter addressed to the Secretary General, Seinde Arogbofa, and made available to newsmen on Sunday, Pa Fasoranti recalled a brief history of the group from its formation in 1951 under the leadership of the late Obafemi Awolowo.
“Considering my age, efforts and selfless dedication to my country, my state (Ondo), my political parties, my past leaders and my members in Afenifere both in Nigeria and in Diaspora, I hereby wish to inform you all that I have decided to step aside as leader of our great organization Afenifere,” he said.
In the letter which was also copied to other leaders of the group such as Ayo Adebanjo, Lanihun Ajayi, Olu Falae, Supo Sonibare and all state chairmen of Afenifere, the octogenarian noted that the group was formed to serve as an umbrella to be used to actualize the dream of a great nation and the Yoruba race.
“Over the years, Yorubas have tried to focus on a common goal. Chief Awolowo tried to ensure the oneness of our people with a lot of efforts notwithstanding the challenges he faced in the process. Unfortunately, he passed on without actualising this dream,” Pa Fasoranti said.
“I joined Afenifere from inception with the following leaders of our race, Pa Onasanya, Alhaji Ganiyu Daodu, Pa Abraham Adesanya, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Sir Olanihun Ajayi, Chief Sam Sonibare, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Wunmi Adegbonmire and so on.
“The mantle of leadership fell on Late Pa Adekunle Ajasin and subsequently Pa Adesanya and then my humble self.
“As events have been unfolding in the past few years, the focus and goals of the founding fathers of our great organisation ‘Afenifere’ were gradually eroded.”
He lamented that the erosion of the common focus and goals of the organisation equally made it difficult for members to work in unity.
“Several efforts were made to ensure the actualisation of the Afenifere goals, but it appeared that we have not succeeded in achieving this,” He lamented.
“This is basically due to reasons best known to our members individually.”
Pa Fasoranti also in his resignation letter dwelt on the national conference, stating that the adoption of the national conference report had always been a focus and goal of the Afenifere group even long before the confab was set up by the last administration.
He said on this premise, the group’s backing of President Goodluck Jonathan was not a mistake.
“The support of a leader who promised to implement this report was therefore not a mistake and inevitable despite all public insinuations,” he said.