A former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said the endorsement of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, by the acting leader of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, was out of hatred for former Lagos state governor, Bola Tinubu.
This is amid the seeming split in the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, emanating from the recent endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Tinubu, by the leader of the group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
Adebanjo had stated that the support of the group for the former Anambra state governor was based on the principles of equity and fairness.
This development has resulted in a lot of furor and divisions in the group.
Fani-Kayode, who reacted to the development in a Facebook post Sunday, questioned Pa Adebanjo’s endorsement of Obi.
The APC chieftain said the decision of the Yoruba leader to rally support for Obi would threaten the unity in the organisation and southern region of the country.
He also described Obi as contemptuous of Yoruba people and berated his chances in 2023, adding that his endorsement by Pa Adebanjo would heighten the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the region next year.
He wrote: “Would the Afenifere of old ever have supported a non-Yoruba candidate in a presidential election? Why do we have to cut our nose to spite our face? Simply because you hate or envy Tinubu does not mean we must deny the entire Yoruba race a crack at the presidency.
“And even if Tinubu offended you in the past, can we not forgive? You know very well that Obi cannot win the presidential election and by supporting him in the West, you are splitting our base and opening the door for an Atiku presidency. Is that what you want?
“Do Nigeria and the Yoruba, whose interest you are supposed to further and protect, not deserve better than that? Can you fathom or appreciate the implications of an Atiku Abubakar presidency for our people and for the nation generally? Have you thought it through? Do you understand what that would mean for us all?” he asked. (Ripples Nigeria)
