Ayomide Awe
A factional leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, has warned members against turning the organisation’s leadership succession into a contest driven by personal ambition, insisting that established traditions must guide the emergence of a new leader.
Olaitan said the organisation’s leadership should emerge through its longstanding succession process rather than campaigns, lobbying or individual efforts to secure the position.
He spoke on Sunday during a condolence visit to the family of the late Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, Ondo State.
Describing the succession process as an “apostolic selection,” the Afenifere chieftain argued that leadership should naturally pass to the appropriate successor in line with the organisation’s established structure.
“You don’t vie for it. You don’t campaign for it. It’s an apostolic selection. If you are the deputy, naturally, if the leader goes, you go,” he said.
Olaitan expressed confidence that Afenifere would overcome its current leadership challenges, despite the possibility of internal disagreements and attempts by some members to undermine its established structure.
He maintained that the organisation’s history, institutional values and traditions would help it navigate the challenges confronting it.
Olaitan, who said he had been a member of Afenifere for about 47 years, explained that his long association with the organisation and its founding figures had given him a deep understanding of its principles and leadership culture.
He served as Afenifere’s national financial secretary under Fasoranti and later as deputy leader under the late Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who died on February 14, 2025.
Adebanjo’s death preceded Olaitan’s emergence as leader of a faction of the organisation, amid the broader leadership differences within the Yoruba socio-political establishment.
Defending his familiarity with Afenifere’s history, Olaitan said his personal relationships with its prominent past leaders had given him firsthand knowledge of the organisation’s evolution.
“Nobody will tell me the story of this organisation. I had a personal relationship with Baba Awolowo, Baba Ajasin, Adesanya and Baba Ayo Adebanjo. So, I’m not a new person,” he said.
The Afenifere chieftain, however, acknowledged the possibility of further disagreements within the organisation, warning that greed and the pursuit of personal interests could threaten its unity.
He argued that the Yoruba people understood the difference between genuine leadership and self-proclaimed authority, stressing that popular recognition remained an important measure of legitimate leadership.
Olaitan also expressed concern over what he described as the exploitation of poverty to influence people’s decisions, but said such practices would not permanently erode the values, identity and traditions of the Yoruba people.
Paying tribute to Fasoranti, Olaitan described the late elder statesman as an exceptional leader whose integrity, humility, discipline and commitment to service earned him respect.
He said Fasoranti exercised authority through personal example rather than intimidation, noting that his conduct reflected the standards he expected members of the organisation to uphold.
According to him, the late Afenifere leader was fair, forthright and disciplined, with an unusual ability to command respect without raising his voice.
“He was coolness, he was fairness, he was forthrightness, he was pure. He was a strict disciplinarian, but a disciplinarian who did not have to shout to give orders. He did that by example, by what he did,” Olaitan said.
Recalling their personal relationship, he said Fasoranti consistently demonstrated concern for his welfare, even after official engagements.
Olaitan narrated how the late leader would telephone him after meetings to confirm that he had arrived safely in Ilesha, particularly when he left late.
He said Fasoranti would first ask why he was departing at a late hour before subsequently calling to ensure that he had reached his destination safely.
Olaitan also recalled Fasoranti’s composure following the death of his daughter, saying he and other associates had initially been apprehensive about approaching the elder statesman to offer condolences.
However, he said they were surprised by the late leader’s calm disposition, which further demonstrated his remarkable personal strength.
The tribute came as attention turned to Afenifere’s leadership succession and the need to preserve the organisation’s legacy amid internal disagreements.
Olaitan maintained that adherence to established traditions and the values upheld by past leaders would be critical to the organisation’s ability to overcome its challenges and sustain its place in Yoruba political affairs.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
'