The United Kingdom and United States chapters of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, have rejected the appointment of Oba Oladipo Olaitan as the leader of the organisation, reaffirming Pa Reuben Fasoranti as the legitimate head. In a joint statement, Durojaiye Akindutire, Chairman of Afen youifere USA, and Babatunde Shianaba, Chairman of Afenifere UK, dismissed the claim that Oba Olaitan now leads Afenifere, describing it as misleading and an affront to the organisation’s legacy.
Their reaction follows a recent announcement by a faction of Afenifere, previously led by the late Chief Ayo Adebanjo, in which Chief Olusola Ebiseni and Justice Faloye declared Oba Olaitan as the new leader. The UK and US leaders, however, insisted that Afenifere remains a structured and principled organisation under Pa Reuben Fasoranti, a respected elder statesman whose leadership continues to shape Yoruba socio-political advancement.
“It is wholly against Yoruba culture and values for younger individuals to belittle elders or seek to usurp the authority of well-established leaders,” the statement read.
They further criticized those pushing the factional leadership, branding them as “political opportunists and self-serving power traders.” They advised them to form a separate entity if they wished but warned against using Afenifere’s name to advance personal ambitions.
