Afenifere In Flames: Akure Camp Rejects Oba Olaitan As Leader
OpenLife News reports that the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, is in flames as the Akure camp loyal to late Pa Reuben Fasoranti has rejected Oba Oladipo Olaitan as successor and vowed to name a former governor as new leader.
The leadership crisis rocking Afenifere has taken a dangerous twist as disagreement over who succeeds late Pa Reuben Fasoranti has torn the Yoruba apex group apart.
Credible sources told Sunday Vanguard that the Akure camp will never approve Oba Oladipo Olaitan as Pa Fasoranti’s successor, insisting they will name a former governor as his replacement.
The move has thrown Afenifere into flames, with factions threatening to form Afenifere Independent and start on a clean slate.
A source close to the Akure camp said: “One thing I know is that the Akure camp will not approve that Oba Oladipo Olaitan emerges as Afenifere leader. I know who they are planning to name as Fasoranti’s successor. He is a former governor. The two camps cannot be united as it is.”
The source revealed that some old guards have made up their mind to float Afenifere Independent if the Olaitan camp forces itself on the group.
“Most of them, who belong to various factions, disagree over cultural succession norms and the potential emergence of a break-away Yoruba group. Discussions are ongoing to jettison both camps and start on a clean slate,” the source said.
“Multiple sources said there is a need to resuscitate Afenifere and give the Yoruba race a formidable platform.”
Last week, following the death of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the Oba Olaitan camp formally announced consolidation of leadership under his stewardship.
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The factional National Publicity Secretary and Secretary-General, Prince Justice Faloye and Alade Rotimi-John, said Olaitan had demonstrated sincerity and capacity to champion Yoruba interests.
The statement read: “The modern history of the Yoruba people and the political evolution of Nigeria bear the indelible mark of Fasoranti.
“As a patriarch of principles, Pa Fasoranti carried the sacred torch of Afenifere with unyielding grace, following in the visionary footsteps of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Senator Abraham Adesanya.”
“Through seasons of national uncertainty, he stood as a steadfast moral compass, a relentless advocate for true federalism, equity, fairness and the progressive advancement of his people.”
The faction declared: “The consolidation of the great legacy now rests upon Oba Oladipo Olaitan. The time for division is over. The survival, stability and prosperity of Yoruba people depend on absolute pan-Yoruba unity.
“We urge all sons and daughters of Omo kaaro oojiire to close ranks and unite firmly behind Oba Olaitan.”
The declaration sparked outrage among Afenifere chieftains.
It has been gathered that Oba Olaitan, seeing the handwriting on the wall that his leadership may not go down well even within his camp, has called for a meeting on Thursday.
The Chairman of National Executive Committee of Afenifere, Oba Olu Falae, has distanced himself from Olaitan camp, saying the move is premature and against Yoruba culture.
Falae said it was inappropriate to discuss who succeeds Pa Fasoranti before he is buried.
“Any discussion on leadership succession is premature and contrary to Yoruba culture. It is inappropriate to discuss who succeeds a leader before he is buried,” Falae said in Akure when a condolence message was delivered to Fasoranti’s family.
He insisted priority is to give Pa Fasoranti a befitting burial, after which a credible leader would emerge.
Former Afenifere spokesperson, Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo, described the Olaitan declaration as forceful acquisition dead on arrival.
“How does someone simply wake up one day and announce himself as leader where two distinct and ideologically different factions exist?” Adejumo queried.
He traced Afenifere ideology to Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s egalitarianism, democratic socialism and Omoluabi concept.
“Ever since Awolowo entered Yoruba politics, two tendencies have existed. Progressivism Awolowo introduced reflects Yoruba concept of Omoluabi. Awolowo never meant for Afenifere to be a Yoruba irredentist group.
“In one of his books, he almost placed a curse on anyone who turns Afenifere into a Yoruba irredentist group.”
“Awolowo maintained that till end and charged members to see Afenifere as national party. If Nigeria must progress, feudal system in North must die.”
“If someone is trying to throw Adebanjo and those who believe in him under the bus and tracing his predecessors (Fasoranti, Adesanya, Ajasin and Awolowo) and painfully excluded Adebanjo, then it is never going to be easy. We are going to have a serious crisis.”
“The Yoruba are not going to be forcefully taken by anyone. This forceful acquisition is dead on arrival,” Adejumo declared.
Adejumo revealed a call from respected elder Dr Femi Okurounmu three weeks ago about forming third force.
“I received a call from Dr Femi Okurounmu who said two factions of Afenifere are on their death rows. It is almost as if life has departed from Afenifere.
“He said ‘I and some others have decided to form a third force.’ I promptly rejected that idea because of forthcoming elections. I said why don’t we wait till after elections and return Afenifere to factory mode.”
“In Yoruba tradition, when a leader dies, nobody talks about succession until that leader has been given befitting burial. What we are seeing is disturbing and destabilising.”
“There is huge fundamental gorge between Adebanjo group and Fasoranti group. Some people exploited Fasoranti at his most vulnerable period, well advanced in age, and these powerful people are with President Tinubu.
“How would Oba Olaitan think he would lead united Afenifere? It is not going to happen.”
“It is Adebanjo faction that is now aligned with SDP. There is arrangement that Afenifere will handle everything that has to do with SDP in South-West. Who will be thrown under bus? Is it Tinubu and APC or Adewole Adebayo of SDP?”
Adejumo narrated how Pa Fasoranti emerged as Afenifere leader after Chief Abraham Adesanya fell ill.
“When Adesanya became seriously ill and suffered stroke, he called Olanihun Ajayi and Ayo Adebanjo to choose between themselves. Adebanjo declined.
“He explained he and others from Ijebu had long been labelled Ijebu mafia, a description he rejected. He worried his emergence might deepen divisions.”
“He proposed Fasoranti who had been involved since 1953 and served as Commissioner for Finance under Chief Michael Ajasin.
“He was retired school principal managing his business. He had not been at forefront of treasonable felony case. Adebanjo believed he could rally members. And so Fasoranti emerged.”
He said from 2008 Afenifere entered turbulence with competing figures like Ayo Fasanmi, Biyi Durojaiye, Chief Olusi deepening divisions.
By 2015 Fasoranti wanted to step aside but Adebanjo persuaded him to continue before announcing Adebanjo as acting leader with Oba Olaitan as deputy.
On Peter Obi endorsement, Adejumo said Adebanjo consulted members for two years on equity.
“Adebanjo maintained Igbo had not had opportunity to produce president while North and Yoruba had eight years each. South-South produced Jonathan.
“Equity is essential route to justice. That was how we rallied behind Peter Obi.”
“Without Obi’s candidacy, President Bola Tinubu might not have become president. Votes Obi attracted in seven states and FCT could have strengthened Atiku Abubakar.
“Given historical voting patterns in South-East where PDP traditionally performed strongly, Obi altered contest.”
Meanwhile, the identity of the former governor being considered by the Akure camp to succeed late Pa Reuben Fasoranti as Afenifere leader is beginning to emerge, with Dr Olusegun Mimiko and Otunba Gbenga Daniel topping the list.
Mimiko, Gbenga Daniel Top List As Akure Camp Shops For Ex-Governor To Succeed Fasoranti
Earlier, a credible source in the Akure camp disclosed that they will not approve Oba Oladipo Olaitan as successor and are gearing up to name a former governor.
The source said: “One thing I know is that the Akure camp will not approve that Oba Oladipo Olaitan emerges as Afenifere leader. I know who they are planning to name as Fasoranti’s successor. He is a former governor.”
But investigation shows that the two leading names are Dr Olusegun Mimiko, former governor of Ondo State, and Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun State.
Dr Olusegun Mimiko, fondly called Iroko, is seen as the natural successor for several reasons.
First, he is from Ondo State where Pa Fasoranti lived and died. He is a core member of the Akure camp loyal to Fasoranti and currently serves in the 33-member burial committee constituted by Oba Olu Falae for Fasoranti’s burial slated for December 17, 2026 in Akure.
Second, Mimiko has strong Afenifere roots and was close to both Pa Adekunle Ajasin and Pa Fasoranti. He understands the progressive ideology of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Third, as a former governor and former Minister, he has executive experience and national contacts needed to give Yoruba a formidable platform, which sources said is needed to resuscitate Afenifere.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun State and current Senator representing Ogun East, is the second top contender.
Daniel is also a member of the 33-man burial committee and an Afenifere chieftain who has managed to stay neutral in the Adebanjo vs Fasoranti feud.
Sources said his business background, political experience as governor and senator, and his ability to fund the organization make him attractive to the Akure camp.
He is also seen as a bridge-builder between the old guard and new generation, and between the Lekki and Akure camps.
Apart from Mimiko and Gbenga Daniel, other former governors whose names are being whispered include:
– Chief Bisi Akande, former Osun State governor and founding member of Afenifere
– Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former Ogun State governor and Afenifere elder
– Oba Olu Falae himself, former Secretary to Government of Federation and Chairman of Afenifere NEC, who is leading the Akure camp
A source said: “The gulf between Adebanjo group and Fasoranti group is huge. The Akure people have formidable people. They will not go along with Olaitan.”
Oba Oladipo Olaitan, the Alaago of Kajola Ago Ijesa, had last week declared himself new leader of Afenifere, saying as deputy to Adebanjo, succession is automatic.
He said: “If there is a leader and a deputy, when the leader dies, the deputy takes over. There is no contest. It is natural and spontaneous.”
But Oba Olu Falae blasted the move as premature and against Yoruba culture.
Falae said: “Any discussion on leadership succession is premature and contrary to Yoruba culture. It is inappropriate to discuss who succeeds a leader before he is buried.”
Former spokesperson Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo also described it as forceful acquisition dead on arrival, accusing Olaitan of excluding Pa Ayo Adebanjo from list of predecessors.
According to Oba Olu Falae, the focus now is to give Pa Fasoranti a befitting burial on December 17, 2026 in Akure.
After burial, a credible leader will emerge to lead Afenifere and reunite the factions.
Meanwhile, some old guards led by Dr Femi Okurounmu are planning to form Afenifere Independent as third force if crisis persists.
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