DANIEL AND THE AFENIFERE CONTROVERSY
Until Chief Ayo Adebanjo made his recent statement purporting that Gov. Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State is a member of Afenifere despite being in the Peoples’ Democratic Party, many of us, who for years have, identified with the socio-political group and its leadership (Chief Adebanjo inclusive) have refrained from joining in the hot air raging between Gov. Daniel and Yinka Odumakin, Publicity Secretary of the organization. Chief Adebanjo’s position is most saddening ad regrettable indeed considering that it is more inflammatory than reconciliatory.
Apart from being a member of the group at the highest echelon for over a decade as a member of the Afenifere caucus, I was part of the recent Ibadan Retreat where no resolution was taken about re-admission of all former members who are now dispersed into political parties other than the ones Afenifere identified with. Yes the need to broaden Afenifere’s shaky base was raised and adopted but ignoring the party affiliations was not part of the resolutions. Chief Adebanjo attended the opening session of the retreat on Friday, October 26, 2007 but was not part of the crucial and emotive debate of the other two days (Saturday and Sunday October 27 and 28) that led to the adoption of the items of the resolutions which adopted Afenifere as the authentic progressive political group best placed as vehicle for Yoruba advancement.
Gov. Daniel, in the opinion of Chief Adebanjo, only left the group on account of belonging to Peoples Democratic Party adding that no one could deny the fact that he (Governor Daniel) was part of Afenifere. But so also are the likes of eminent people as Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Mr. Dayo Adeyeye. How is the case of Governor Daniel different from this trio except that he is a serving state Chief Executive with a lot of money to throw around. Chief Adebanjo as a Yoruba leader should spare a thought for the future of Afenifere legacy as he prepares for the grand celebration o his 80th birthday.
I recall that in 1998 or thereabout the official monthly congregation of Afenifere at Ijebu-Igbo attended by Chief Adebanjo shut the doors of the organization against the likes of Chief Babatope and Alh. Jakande for hobnobbing with the Abacha administration. The same policy was further promoted when the Alliance for Democracy was formed. Chief Babatope and Alh. Lateef Jakande were never allowed to take their place within Afenifere up till today because they hold membership of other parties.
Since becoming governor of Ogun State in 2003, Otunba Daniel has stepped up the destabilisation mission he started against Afeniefere in 2002, when he helped form the Yoruba Council of Elders where he was the first General Secretary. He relinquished the post for late Justice Adewale Thomson later. The governor’s recent onslaught against avowed membership principle of Afenifere culminated in a motion brought before the caucus of Afenifere in October 2005 at Alhaji Gbenga Kaka’s house in Ijebu-Igbo by Dr. Femi Okurounmu seeking to allow the Ogun State governor attend Afenifere’s meetings as member. I recall that the motion was promptly thrown out on account of the failure of the applicant (Governor Daniel) to satisfy the two core requisites for membership namely subscription to the Awo credo and belonging to the political party supported by Afenifere. Chief Adebanjo was part of this meeting.
Chief Adebanjo spoke glowingly about the antecedents of Otunba Daniel as if the governor paraded any superior steadfastness to Afenifere cause than people like Alhaji Jakande, Chief Babatope and Adeyeye. What is Awoistic about a governor who shot up Olabisi Onabanjo University tuition by 400 percent in a blink of the eye? Only last month the governor announced his administration’s plan to turn available spaces in five schools in Abeokuta into motor parks. Despite understandable protest by parents, Otunba Daniel is yet to rescind that anti-people policy. Is this Awoism?
Otunba Daniel dumped AD for PDP in 2002 and later assisted in the formation of YCE to rival Afenifere in the same way the defunct Egbe Omo Olofin was formed in the first republic by Afenifere renegades. Chief Ayo Adebanjo was the defunct Action Group’s organizing Secretary for Remo Division at that period during the first republic. Our elder stateman would therefore recall that no member of the Egbe Omo Olofin was allowed to be a member of Afenifere of the period. I dare put it to Chief Adebanjo with all respect that up till now Otunba Daniel has not renounced his membership of YCE. What then is the difference between the governor and old members of Egbe Omo Olofin? Till he died and despite his acknowledged position as one of the brightest lights of Afenifere late Justice Adewale Thompson was never allowed back into the group after he left for YCE where he took over from Otunba Gbenga Daniel as Secretary General. Does the governor now parades a more outstanding Afenifere credential than Justice Thompson?
One can not help marvel at the gaping contradiction in Chief Adebanjo’s view as reported in newspapers. In one breath he declared in self-righteous manner that Otunba Daniel is an authentic member of Afenifere and in another breath that the Ibadan Retreat considered his and others readmission into the group. Can an individual whose application for admission is under consideration be pronounced as “authentic member”?
By Sola Lawal
Lawal is Secretary, Afenifere Publicity Committee