I welcome you all to this very important meeting of our dear organization, the AFENIFERE appreciate each and every one of you coming to this meeting despite the danger posed by the Covid–19 pandemic, the kidnappings and killings that have almost been the daily routine on our highways today 3. At the inception, when the magical word AFENIFERE was coined to represent the values and ideals of the ACTION GROUP, it was to emphasize and illustrate the core values of the principles of egalitarianism as you call it, democratic social welfare, and a life more abundant for all.
These are virtues that the YORUBA RACE hold very dear and which our organization has consistently applied with integrity over years, AFENIFERE has enjoyed the trust and support of the Yoruba people across board.
We owe the preeminence of AFENIFERE over and above all Yoruba organizations to the astuteness, commitment and self sacrifice of our founding fathers lead by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the leader of Afenifere and ASIWAJU of Yoruba land.
ASIWAJU of the Yoruba people evinced a focused, farsighted and diligent leadership with awesome integrity.
He made so much personal sacrifices for the good of our race, A FEAT THAT IS YET TO BE RIVALED TO DATE; Before departure he had built up a robust AFENIFERE with highly disciplined and highly articulate leaders to sustain the organization that is the secret of the seeming invincibility of AFENIFERE that we all enjoy today. By the time he left, there was a clear part of leadership succession, so Chief Micheal Adekunle Ajasin stepped into Chief Awolowos shoes seamlessly. ‘
Chief Ajasin was a highly disciplined and forthright leader with integrity. His reign marked him as a man with a heart made of steel and a conqueror. He travailed the labyrinth of thorns laid down by the General Sani Abacha regime and others. He led the NADECO and enhanced the credibility of Afenifere in flying colors until he passed on.
At the departure of Chief Ajasin the attempt to raise a new leader through an open house contest between two equally from the shackles of ignorance, poverty, and servitude under the pseudo imperialist and the modern day colonialists will not be complete without the selfless efforts of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Ajasin, and Chief Adesanya .
Since 2008 when I took over as leader, AFENIFERE had been engaged on two fronts both unrelenting the massive unrest launched against the Yoruba people by those who by omission or commission sought to emasculate us in our space using all manner of negativity and influence.
The governments at home that have fearfully expanded the economic and social strangulation of our land through the invasion of murderous herders who destroy our farms, rape and kill our people both as an economic and political instrument of subjugation.
The second is the stubborn determination by a section of the north in power to continue running Nigeria through a defective structural arrangement manipulated and dominated by the north to the disadvantage of the south through a fraudulent and unacceptable constitution.
AFENIFERE now needs more than ever before to have an improved organization with a more effective approach to issues.
Only a more agile 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. 13, At this point, let me take a break and make an important point. Whatever has been achieved by AFENIFERE has been by collective leadership, the leader in AFENIFERE works according to the leadership model. In this respect I want to pay special tribute to all my colleagues in AFENIFERE most especially two of them. ‘ Late Chief Olaniwun Ajayi and my good brother and friend Chief Ayo Adebanjo they both worked so hard to keep AFENIFERE up in the times of the travails. The passage of Chief Olaniwun Ajayi did not impact negatively on the commitment of Chief Ayo Adebanjo towards all that AFENIFERE stands for. May he continue to bless the memory of Chief Olaniwun Ajayi. He shall continue to be a beacon of light for the upcoming generations of AFENIFERE and the Yoruba race at large.
Chief Ayo Adebanjo efforts stand him out as a deep lover of Afenifere and the Yoruba people. He has been in the trenches all his life, to the Yoruba race and to AFENIFERE to which his name is almost synonymous now. I thank you Chief Ayo Adebanjo , I deeply appreciate you.
I would also like to thank Chief Olu Falae, Senator C.O. Adebayo, Senator Femi Okunrounmu. Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Chief Femi Aluko, my dear friend and neighbour. The organizations treasurer Chief Supo Shonibare, the organization’s financial secretary, HRH OBA Oladipo Olaitan, the organization’s organizing secretary Abagun kole Omololu, the organization’s Publicity Secretary Yinka Odumakin and not the least, the Secretary General Bashorun Arogbofa and others too many to mention who worked to make AFENIFERE what it is today . The success of today is our success.
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 Kabiyesi Oba Oladipo Olaitan, The Alaago of Kajola Ago, Atakumosa East Local Government Area, llesa, Osun State as Deputy Leader.
There is much work to do so I urge you all to support them even more than you did for me. I remain a loyal and lifelong Afenifere till demise. Thank you all.
God bless you God bless AFENIFERE
Oodua a gbe wa ooo
Chief (DR) Reuben Famuyide FASORANTI(OFR)