A national leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural and political organization, the Afenifere, Senator Ayo Fasanmi has condemned the suspension of former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Otunba Iyiola Omisore by the Reuben Fasoranti-led faction.
Fasanmi said it was laughable for the Fasoranti faction to slam suspension on Omisore for working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last governorship election.
He maintained that the Fasoranti group lacks the moral rectitude to be speaking for the Yoruba race having allegedly derailed from the progressive ideology of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
The 93-year-old nationalist and the oldest survivor of the Chief Obafemi Awolowo political legacy described Omisore’s purported suspension as “the most embarrassing action taken by anyone or group since the death of the late sage.
The former member of House of Representatives (1964-1966) and Senator (1979-1983) condemned the Fasaoranti-led faction for not seeing anything good in the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
He said the Yoruba race had benefited from the Buhari-led government in terms of key appointments, influence and execution of key projects.
In statement on Wednesday by Publicity Secretary, Ekiti State chapter of Afenifere, Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae, Fasanmi said it was disappointing for anyone to desecrate the hallowed name of Awolowo with conservative political tendency as being espoused by the Fasoranti and Ayo Adebanjo group.
While regretting that the Fasoranti-led group had “crossed the redline” with its action, Fasanmi stressed that the spirit of Awolowo will never forgive whoever must have taken steps to bastardize the legacies he fought for all his life.
Fasanmi said: “The Fasoranti/Adebanjo group must henceforth stop talking on behalf of the Yoruba race because they have derailed. I am warning them that they should not put the Yoruba race on sale.
“The Yoruba race is comfortable with the progressives as being represented by the All Progressives Congress (APC), where the Yoruba is having the chunk of appointments.
“This has never happened even when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was President. I wonder what Fasoranti and his group wanted by their anti-Buhari posture except they want to tell us they are now against Chief Awolowo’s legacies which all Yorubas are still proud to associate with.
“Anyway, many of those working for PDP within Afenifere never stood for any election all through their political life.”
Pa Fasanmi, however, congratulated Omisore and former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, on their return to the progressives fold, whishing them well in their future endeavours.
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