Utomi backs Adebanjo, says Afenifere’s stance on Obi driven by decency, fairness

The recent endorsement of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), by Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the former head of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere, has sparked contentious debates in the political arena.

This occurred while Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the group’s interim head, reiterated that Peter Obi was solely motivated by morality and fairness, according to Prof. Pat Utomi, a prominent member of the Labour Party.
In a Tuesday interview, Fasoranti stated that the Yoruba group would back the former governor of Lagos State in the general elections of 2023.

This contradicts the earlier position made by the current leadership of the group on the former Anambra State Governor based on the principles of rotational politics and fairness to the South-Eastern region of the country.

Utomi, who was a guest in a Channels Television Programme on Tuesday night, backed Adebanjo on his insistence on Obi for president next year.

The political economist downplayed the uproar caused by the encounter between Pa Fasoranti and the APC national leader on Sunday in Akure, Ondo State, as unimportant.
He made the point that Nigeria needed to get away from the egotistical politics that had kept it stagnant for so long.

He said: “The part of Nigeria that must exude principle-based politics is the South West. The fact is his position is driven purely by principles and was taken long before Peter Obi showed up. And the fact that a candidate goes to Pa Fasoranti for blessing is normal.

“The leaders of the South-East, South-South, North Central and Afenifere had a meeting hosted by Adebanjo at the request of Pa Edwin Clark. At the meeting a principle-centred position was taken based on the fundamental principles of decency, fairness and certain moral compass. I’m not familiar with the internal dynamics of Afenifere. Those things are generated by people who are bent on destroying Nigeria.

“What is at stake is that our country is dying and the young people of Nigeria want to disrupt the system that leads to capture in which politicians obsess with the love of self, take the common good and make theirs.”