Apparently referring to Former President Olusegun Obasanjo who recently wrote a letter to President Gooluck Jonathan which is still generating reactions from Nigerians, the apex Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere has branded the ex-president a failed leader.The National Publicity Secretary of the group,
Yinka Odumakin, made the comment on Friday after meeting of Afenifere with the President at Aso Rock.Afenifere averred that “Some forces that have benefited from the imbalance and inequity of decades would not fold their arms and watch Nigeria restructured into an entity that works for all its component units. This is why all manners of “letters” were posted to you with “impeachment” calls.According to Odumakin, the group was in support of the proposed national conference by the federal government and firmly support President Goodluck Jonathan initative on the project.A statement by the group urged the president “to be more vigilant and rest assured of Afenifere’s support in the days ahead for as long as you are committed to give Nigeria a proper National Conference which you re-emphasised when you received the report of the Advisory Committee two days ago. We believe the time has come for us to sit and find lasting solutions from the stakeholders across Nigeria to our challenges as against temporary reliefs that bring greater and long-lasting sorrows which some letter writers and their group have given us since 1966.”Another chieftain of Afenifere, Olanihun Ajayi, echoed Jonathan’s assurances that he and his administration would submit to the outcome of the conference, even if it borders on the conduct of the 2015 presidential election, because it would be taken as the decision of all Nigerians.President Jonathan however reiterated assurance that he had no personal interest in the outcome of the confab nor will he influence the course or eventual decisions reached.He therefore, urged those that will emerge as participants at the conference to put Nigeria first in all their deliberations.Ondo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko, who accompanied the delegation, urged Nigerians to allow the courts to decide on the fate of governors and federal lawmakers who recently defected from the ruling PDP to the rival APC.Excerpts of the address by the Afenifere ran thus: “We commend your initiative on a National Dialogue to bring together the peoples of Nigeria to discuss their union. This is a bold move that will earn you a good place in history if faithfully implemented. Any leader who is able to get us out of this structural quagmire will never be forgotten.
DAILY INDEPENDENT
