Afenifere changes leadership as Adebanjo takes over from Fasoranti

The leader of Afenifere, the Yoruba Socio-Political group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti on Tuesday stepped down from his leadership position for Pa Ayo Adebanjo.

Pa Fasoranti in a statement said at the age of 95, he could not function to meet the demands of the times.

Afenifere was formed as a socio-cultural organization for the Yoruba people of Nigeria, with the late Chief Abraham Adesanya as its leader and the late Chief Bola Ige as deputy leader. Other founding members were Pa Onasanya, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Adegbonmire, Okurounmu Femi, Ganiyu, Olanihun Ajayi, Olu Falae, Adebayo Adefarati, Alhaji Adeyemo, and Ayo Adebanjo. When the Alliance for Democracy (AD) political party was formed in 1998, it took the Afenifere agenda as its official manifesto.

In November 2008, a faction of Afenifere in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, installed Chief Reuben Fasoranti as the new chairman.

Pa Fasoranti said on Tuesday: “As the group needs more than ever before to have an improved organisation with a more effective approach to combat the monstrous invasion of our culture and pride as a people, Only a more alive and active leadership can achieve this. At 95 I am hardly able to provide such and so it is time for me to step aside;
At this junction, I am proud to announce Chief Ayo Adebanjo a politician of the Awolowo school of thought as Acting leader of Afenifere and His Royal Highness, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, the Alaago of Kajola Ago in Atakumosa East Local Government Area, as the Deputy Leader.”