By Ayodele Oni
Factional Afenifere, led by Pa Ayo Adebanjo, has affirmed that it remains in support of the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, (LP) in his bid to challenge illegality in February election.
The Presidential Election Petition Committee had dismissed petitions filed by Obi anf other political parties to challenge victory of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Rising from its monthly meeting at Isanya Ogbo Ogun state on Tuesday, the Yoruba group states that “Afenifere remains convinced and undeterred on the just principles with which we agreed to support Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
“In line with our disagreement with the judgment of the Court of Appeal on the 2023 elections, we support a further appeal to the Supreme Court in the interest of the nation.
“Afenifere cannot reconcile with such pronouncements that the INEC is at liberty to return to the manual collation of election results and all the primitive electoral brigandage associated.
“Neither is it true with our political structure that Nigeria is now a 37-state federation as the Court of Appeal erroneously pronounced.
“Afenifere remains resolved that no person or group of persons shall hold the reins of power except in the proven interest of a fair, equitable, inclusive and thus united Nigeria in their peaceful, prosperous and harmonious diversity.”
In a communique released to journalists in Akure, Ondo state by secretary of the group, Sola Ebiseni, the group bemoaned state of the nation, which has led to the decision of the organized labour to go on strike saying the removal of oil subsidy and other economic policies hastily pronounced without planning for the collateral effects, the Nigerian masses have been abysmally pauperized Nigerians.
‘In reacting and calling for mass action in this regard, the NLC is living to its historic responsibility.
“Afenifere restates its commitment to welfare economics as opposed to the neo-liberal economic policies currently being pushed. Government needs to open up to Nigerians and those in power come down from their ostentatious life styles.
“From the humongous number of 50 Ministers with intractable number of aides, it is unacceptable that the people are being called upon to make further sacrifices. Government is called upon to look into the plight of Nigerians and listen to the NLC to avert the looming strikes in the interests of the already prostate economy.
On intervention of ECOWAS in Niger Republic military putsch, the group commended Nigerians for standing against military action in that country.
“While Afenifere reiterates its abhorrence to any undemocratic access to power either through the barrels of the gun or electoral brigandage, the principles of the total emancipation of the African continent is in tandem with the principles of Afenifere.”
