Afenifere: We were not given chance to defend our selves – Suspended spokesman
The suspended National Publicity Secretary of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Jare Ajayi, has disclosed the group never gave him and the suspended National Organising Secretary, Abagun Omololu, a chance to react to the allegations levelled against them by the leaders of the group.
In his response, on Tuesday, Ajayi decried the action taken by the group, adding that it failed to stand by its ethos and regulations.
“I, and to the best of my knowledge, Abagun Kole Omololu, the National Organising Secretary, were never issued a query let alone be asked to face any disciplinary committee. It is a big pity that an organization founded on principles and that is guided by ethos and regulations could take seeming disciplinary actions against any member – not to talk of officials – without giving them an opportunity to respond to whatever allegations the leaders have against them.”
He linked his suspension to two recent occassions he had issued press statements which some senior members of the group did not agree with, Vanguard reports.
He mentioned the two releases to include naira cash scarcity affecting the nation and a congratulatory message to the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
“In the heat of the sufferings being experienced by Nigerians in accessing their monies in the banks, I called on the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria to extend the deadline for the circulation of both the old and the new Naira notes by at least three months. This was early in February before the pronouncement by the Supreme Court. A top officer of Afenifere called me to say that what I asked the government to do was not the position of the organization. I asked him what the position was, the senior officer told me that the position will be stated after a meeting that was being contemplated. I said that people were suffering hence the statement I issued. And thereafter, the position of the organization on the issue was never made known to me.
“The second occasion was when some members called me to express their displeasure over the statement issued to congratulate the President-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, after his electoral victory. Those who called me said that since Mr. Peter Obi and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar were still contesting Asiwaju’s victory, it was wrong to congratulate him,.” he said.
Recall that the duo were suspended indefinitely over alleged misconduct.
According to the communique issued at the end of the Afenifere meeting held at the residence of the leader of the group, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, at Isanya Ogbo Ogun State on Tuesday, the group “observed the uncouth activities and unauthorised statements in its name and to the constant denigration of the organisation, by Jare Ajayi, the National Publicity Secretary and Abagun Kole Omololu the National Organising Committee.”
