A Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere Renewal
Group (ARG) has publicly denied ever endorsing President Goodluck
Jonathan’s re-election bid.
The public denial was in a reaction to the alleged endorsement of Mr. President by the group as reported by sections of the media, PM News reports.
The Afenifere in a statement issued on Wednesday signed by its publicity secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, distanced itself from the purported endorsement.
Famoriyo described the use of its insignia to promote the said endorsement as fraudulent and an attempt to deceive Yoruba people.
“It has come to our notice that some broadcast stations are using ARG’s name and logo to promote the said endorsement. This is fraudulent and we wish to advice media houses to be wary of such fraudulent promoters especially now that public interest must be defended by the media. The ARG is not a party to the endorsement and does not in fact think the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan since May 2010 is worth the endorsement of any patriotic citizen. We believe there is a difference between ‘transformation,’ which President Jonathan promised Nigerians in 2011 and mere ‘reform’ of the same governance culture that Nigerians have rejected. The ARG does not dictate to the generality of the Yoruba people, rather it gives voice to their feelings and aspirations. The extensive consultations we have made showed that Yoruba people have come to a firm conclusion that they have been at the shorter end of the stick under the Jonathan-led government, under whose administration, nepotism and ethnocentrism have taken over as the emblem of our presidential politics. ARG therefore stands with the aspirations of Yoruba people for change. As echoed in Abeokuta recently at the public lecture organised by the Ogun State chapter of ARG, the change that we demand include a public pledge to restructure the country in such a way that power will devolve to the most efficient federating units,” the group said.
Meanwhile, it was reported on Tuesday that the group’s Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, while speaking to newsmen in Akure, Ondo State capital asserted that Afenifere endorsed Jonathan after meeting with him during his state wide presidential campaign.
The meeting which reportedly took place at the residence of the National Chairman of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti had in attendance other notable leaders of the state like Governor Olusegun Mimiko, two former governors of Osun and Ogun state Iyiola Omisore and Gbenga Daniel.
Others include Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Sehinde Arogbofa, Chief Olu Falae as well as Supo Sonibare.
However, the public denial coming from the group should not be surprising as it would be recalled that Afenifere had earlier opened up that the recent attempt by President Jonathan to persuade the Yoruba nation to support his re-election bid is too late.
Meanwhile, the fearless group while reacting to the insurgency in the northeastern part of the country openly warned the Boko Haram insurgents that any terror attack in Yoruba land will lead to war.
The public denial was in a reaction to the alleged endorsement of Mr. President by the group as reported by sections of the media, PM News reports.
The Afenifere in a statement issued on Wednesday signed by its publicity secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, distanced itself from the purported endorsement.
Famoriyo described the use of its insignia to promote the said endorsement as fraudulent and an attempt to deceive Yoruba people.
“It has come to our notice that some broadcast stations are using ARG’s name and logo to promote the said endorsement. This is fraudulent and we wish to advice media houses to be wary of such fraudulent promoters especially now that public interest must be defended by the media. The ARG is not a party to the endorsement and does not in fact think the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan since May 2010 is worth the endorsement of any patriotic citizen. We believe there is a difference between ‘transformation,’ which President Jonathan promised Nigerians in 2011 and mere ‘reform’ of the same governance culture that Nigerians have rejected. The ARG does not dictate to the generality of the Yoruba people, rather it gives voice to their feelings and aspirations. The extensive consultations we have made showed that Yoruba people have come to a firm conclusion that they have been at the shorter end of the stick under the Jonathan-led government, under whose administration, nepotism and ethnocentrism have taken over as the emblem of our presidential politics. ARG therefore stands with the aspirations of Yoruba people for change. As echoed in Abeokuta recently at the public lecture organised by the Ogun State chapter of ARG, the change that we demand include a public pledge to restructure the country in such a way that power will devolve to the most efficient federating units,” the group said.
Meanwhile, it was reported on Tuesday that the group’s Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, while speaking to newsmen in Akure, Ondo State capital asserted that Afenifere endorsed Jonathan after meeting with him during his state wide presidential campaign.
The meeting which reportedly took place at the residence of the National Chairman of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti had in attendance other notable leaders of the state like Governor Olusegun Mimiko, two former governors of Osun and Ogun state Iyiola Omisore and Gbenga Daniel.
Others include Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Sehinde Arogbofa, Chief Olu Falae as well as Supo Sonibare.
However, the public denial coming from the group should not be surprising as it would be recalled that Afenifere had earlier opened up that the recent attempt by President Jonathan to persuade the Yoruba nation to support his re-election bid is too late.
Meanwhile, the fearless group while reacting to the insurgency in the northeastern part of the country openly warned the Boko Haram insurgents that any terror attack in Yoruba land will lead to war.
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