2019: Afenifere to endorse Buhari, Osinbajo January 29 in Ibadan

A Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere on Thursday declared that it
will on Tuesday 29th January 2019 formally endorse the candidature of
President Muhammadu Buhari as its preferred presidential candidate
ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The group made this known shortly after its meeting held at the House
of Chiefs, Secretariat in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Recall that Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who spoke on behalf of another group
led by Chief Rueben Fasoranti, had told journalists in September that
the group will support the candidature of former Vice President,
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

But, another group led by Senator Ayo Fasanmi on Thursday said that
President Muhammadu Buhari has performed well, hence deserves another
term in office.

The Senator Ayo Fasanmi-led Afenifere, after its meeting in Ibadan,
told journalists that it will on Tuesday January 29 formally declare
its support for Buhari and his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

Leaders of the group at the Ibadan meeting included: Chief Ayo
Fasanmi, former governor of Oyo state, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, Senator
Biyi Durojaye and Chairman of Ekiti State chapter of the group, Chief
Akin Fasae.

Fasae, who spoke on behalf of the group, described the Chief Reuben
Fasoranti group as usurper.

He said, "We decided to host the whole Yoruba land in Ibadan on
January 29 next year. It is to proclaim support of the Yoruba land for
President Muhammadu Buhari come 2019. And also to tell the whole world
that the Afenifere that Baba Awolowo created before he left is still
intact.

"The Afenifere is a progressive movement and any Afenifere who is not
a progressive is not Afenifere. The Afenifere that Baba Awolowo
created is still intact and we are going to support President
Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo in the presidential
election come February 2019".

Fasae said that Buhari has performed well and deserves another term in office.

He said, "The economy is a collective issue, the unemployment that we
have is getting better. Look at the school feeding program, look at
his many millions of naira they are spending, look at the number of
school children they are feeding. Look, children are being fed, 27
states are benefiting. And many other things that are happening and
unemployment has reduced. Buhari has done his best and his best is yet
to come. That is why we are telling people to vote for him
particularly in the Yoruba land."

He added that the Chief Ayo Fasanmi-led Afenifere is the authentic
Afenifere, claiming that the one led by Chief Reuben Fasoranti is not
part of Afenifere.

Fasae said, "I just said it now, this is not a faction. I said that
the Afenifere we know in Yoruba land is a progressive movement and
this is where we are today in Ibadan and the other Afenifere that is
talking about Atiku, the Ayo Adebanjo group is not part of Afenifere.
They are usurpers in the group".