Agency Report

By Moses Kolo

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Kaduna State Chapter, has condemned, in strong terms, unabated, kidnappings for ransom and killings of innocent citizens across the State.

The Condemnation was contained in a press statement signed by Abraham Catoh, the State Publicity Secretary of PDP and issued to newsmen on Thursday in Kaduna.

The statement raised concern over the spate of kidnappings and wanton killings in the state, after several innocent citizens of communities in different parts of the state were kidnapped and some killed within their communities and farms in recent times.

It urged the APC-led administration of Governor Nasir Elrufai to wake up to its responsibilty of securing the lives and property of the citizens of Kaduna State.

“The party wonder why after the media innuendos about the billions of naira squandered on the Closed Circuit Cameras (CCTV) and the claimed voted monies for procurement of security drones for “intelligence gatherings” and yet the the spate of insecurity has rather increased instead of reducing.

“Recall that amongst these latest killed victims is the PDP ward Chairman of Idon Ward, Kajuru Local Government, who was killed at his farm, while harvesting his crops,” it added.

The party also urged on the State, Federal Government and all the Security Agencies to braise up to the huge challenges to mitigate these acts of terrorism by providing more improved security in the state and the entire country at large, bearing in mind that the 2023 general elections were around the corner.

“Rising from a State Working Committee, (SWC) meeting, the party urged the security agencies to, as a matter of strategy, set up a 24-hour joint patrol on all major highways and forests within the State and also collaborate with other neighbouring states so as to achieve the needed solutions to nib in the bud these challenges.

“The party notes that economic activities in the State, especially farming, have come to a halt while kidnapping and wanton killings have become the order of the day as citizens can no longer travel for their business engagements or go to their farms for fear of being kidnapped, maimed and killed.

“The worsening humanitarian crisis due to the multiplier effects of the state of insecurity across the state is a depressing situation in many of the affected communities;where it has degenerated to IDPs all over the state, because of the magnitude of these kidnappings and killings,” the statement stated.

It further said that the PDP sympathised with victims and the people who have lost their loved ones from these dastardly acts.

“The traumatic and psychological effects on the minds of the people of Birnin Gwari, Kajuru,Giwa,Igabi,Sanga, Zangon Kataf,Chikun Local Governments et al, is unimaginable.

“We urge all citizens of goodwill and humanitarian agencies to demonstrate solidarity with these victims and provide support to those affected”.

News Politics

Tinubu's endorsement splits Afenifere as Fasoranti, Adebanjo butt heads

NURUDEEN SHOTAYO

November 3, 2022 11:24 AM

The two Afenifere leaders have clashed heads over support for presidential candidates and the group's leadership position.

Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Bola Tinubu and Pa Reuben Fasoranti (Channels TV)

The gaping chasm within the ranks of the Yoruba-social-political organisation, Afenifere, has continued to widen as two leaders of the group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti and Pa Ayo Adebanjo differed over endorsement of presidential candidates.

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Leadership tussle: The two elder statesmen are also locked in a battle of supremacy over the group's leadership position.

How it started: Until now, there had been murmurs of dissent within the group coupled with insinuations that the leadership held divergent opinion about the way forward ahead of the 2023 general elections.

However, the simmering crisis has now boiled to the surface thanks to the recent visit of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to the leaders of Afenifere in Akure, Ondo State.

Tinubu visits Afenifere: Pulse reports that the former Lagos State Governor paid a courtesy visit to the residence of Pa Fasoranti on Sunday, October 31, 2022, to present his action plan to the nonagenarian and other leaders of the Yoruba group.

Afenifere endorses Tinubu: Meanwhile, the event was quickly turned into a mini political rally by Tinubu's retinue of supporters and the Afenifere chiefs who received him, as the APC flag-bearer was endorsed by the group while Pa Fasoranti and other leaders also prayed for his success in the 2023 election.

One group, two endorsements: Recall that before Tinubu's trip to Ondo, the acting leader of Afenifere, Pa Adebanjo and a section of the group had in September pitched their tent with the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, hinging their support on the need for the South-East geopolitical zone to produce its first president.

However, Pulse reports that Adebanjo was conspicuously missing at the Akure meeting where the leaders endorsed and drummed up support for the former Lagos State Governor.

Afenifere National Organising Secretary, Abagun Kole Omololu, later issued a statement in which he described a Tinubu presidency as one that would “usher in a new era of hope, peace, security, harmony, gainful employment for the multitude, economic development, social and political stability.”

The group also claimed that APC torchbearer “shared with us his vision of a greater and more prosperous Nigeria where democratic rights, rule of law, justice and fairness will reign supreme. He also gave an assurance on steps to be taken to ensure the safety and security of Nigerians and their properties.”

Crisis erupts in Afenifere: The turnout of events has now triggered a rancour within the group with some faulting the decision of Fasoranti, who stepped aside as leader and handed over to Adebanjo, as acting leader, to endorse Tinubu on behalf of the group.

Reacting to the notion, Fasoranti in an interview with Impact TV Africa categorically declared that he neither resigned nor retired as the leader of Afenifere.

The nonagenarian also explained the group’s choice of Tinubu, while stressing that he was still the leader of Afenifere.

Fasoranti's word: “I didn’t resign or retire from leadership. I was misunderstood. I think the best thing is to correct that.

“As you can see, the trend, the approval and the acceptability. You could see what happened when Tinubu came to meet me in Akure. The media carried the whole thing.

“Adebanjo does not have the capacity to warn me not to welcome Tinubu. Can he do that successfully?

“What happened was that Adebanjo took a stand and I took a stand. I didn’t call him and he didn’t call me. We never spoke about the visit.

“As you saw yesterday, it goes without saying that Jagaban was accepted. Obi has no stand in our mind at all.”

Adebanjo digs his foot in: Speaking with The Punch, Adebanjo, who confirmed that he was not at the meeting in Akure, said he was not ready to enter into any controversy over the decision taken at the meeting.

He, however, argued that Fasoranti lacked the power to remove him as the latter was just an ordinary member of the organisation.

Adebanjo's word: “In the first place, I was not supposed to be there. In the second place, we have made our position clear. Pa Fasoranti asked me if I was coming, I said if he asked me to come, but (I asked him to) tell him (Tinubu) what the position of Afenifere is. Once he has done that, I’m not going into any controversy about that.

“Afenifere has taken a stance to support Obi. Any other splinter or rebel group…I’m not going into any controversy about that. I regard that as a diversion. What we are going to do now is see that we succeed at the election.

“He has no right, constitutionally or otherwise, to do so. He’s functus officio (no longer in office.) He has resigned and is just an ordinary member of the party.

“Once he has handed over to me, I am the de facto leader of Afenifere. I won’t make it a controversy at all. Let him test his position wherever.

“Where does he derive his authority? Is Afenifere a monarchy? It’s a pity that in his old age he’s being led astray.

“Have you heard of somebody who is out of a process now saying he’s coming back again? It’s a pity he’s making himself a laughing stock,” Adebanjo said.Part of the crisis rocking Afenifere involves the location where the organisation’s future meetings will be held."