A factional leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere Oba Oladipo Olaitan has said the organisation’s leadership succession should follow established traditions rather than be determined through campaigns or lobbying.
Olaitan who expressed confidence that Afenifere would overcome its leadership challenges spoke at the weekend during a condolence visit to the residence of the late leader Pa Reuben Fasoranti in Ijapo Estate Akure Ondo State.
Fasoranti died at his residence in Akure on Tuesday at age 100.
Describing the organisation’s succession process as ‘apostolic succession’ Olaitan insisted that members should not contest or campaign for the leadership position.
‘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 a former political adviser to the late Lagos State Governor Lateef Jakande warned that greed and personal interests could trigger further turbulence within the organisation.
He said his nearly 47 years in Afenifere had given him a deep understanding of its traditions and leadership structure.
He served as the group’s national financial secretary under Fasoranti and deputy leader under the late Chief Ayo Adebanjo who died on February 14 2025.
Olaitan subsequently emerged as the leader of a faction of the organisation.
‘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.
He admitted that the organisation might experience some turbulence but expressed confidence that its established procedures would help it overcome any attempt to undermine its unity.
‘I see some turbulence because unfortunately there could be some turbulence over greed. If anybody wants to topple the apple cart I think the thoroughness that Afenifere is known for will get us through it’ he said.
Olaitan also said the Yoruba people knew who genuinely deserved to lead them insisting leadership could not be established merely by declaring oneself leader.
‘If anybody a Yoruba man comes and says ‘I’m the leader’ the Yoruba man knows who the leader is. They know’ he said.
He expressed concern that poverty was being exploited to influence people’s decisions but maintained that such practices would not destroy the values and identity of the Yoruba people.
‘The ethos the mainstay of what the Yoruba race is known for we will survive. No matter the shenanigans you may find on the surface we will survive’ he said.
Paying tribute to the late Afenifere leader Olaitan described him as an exceptional statesman whose integrity humility discipline and commitment to service set him apart.
He said Fasoranti commanded respect through his character and example not intimidation and that his leadership qualities were rare.
‘He was a chapter in himself. You don’t have that too often. They come few and far between. They come like a star and then they glitter a beacon.
He was coolness he was fairness he was forthrightness he was pure. He was a strict disciplinarian but one who didn’t have to shout to give orders. He did that by example by what he did’ he added.
Olaitan recalled how Fasoranti showed concern for his welfare whenever he prepared to return to Ilesha late at night after meetings.
He said the elder statesman would ask why he was leaving late and later call to confirm that he had arrived home safely.
‘In all my years of interacting with leaders dating back to when I was 21 he was the only one who had ever done that to me. He cared about you and he showed it’ he said.
He also recalled Fasoranti’s composure following the death of his daughter saying he and other associates had been apprehensive about visiting him to offer condolences.
According to him they were surprised when the late leader received them with his usual smile.
‘When we met him we were shocked. He smiled as he would normally smile’ he said.
Olaitan said Fasoranti’s decision to appoint him deputy leader reflected the late statesman’s confidence in him especially when Afenifere needed stability.
‘You don’t appoint anybody to such a position that you don’t trust’ he said.
He expressed optimism that the Yoruba values embodied in the concept of Omoluabi including integrity discipline and responsibility would endure despite the political and leadership challenges facing the people.
‘Politics will come and go. It will come and go. In the end we shall all be happy that we are typical Yoruba people. It doesn’t matter what happens. We will survive’ he added.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the traditional ruler of Ilu-Abo in Akure North LGA of Ondo State Oba Olu Falae had recalled the succession process following the death of the organisation’s revered leader Chief Obafemi Awolowo saying he had approached the late former Ogun State governor Chief Bisi Onabanjo to ask who would lead the group.
He said Onabanjo ruled himself out of consideration because of his health and he also expressed reservations about other prominent figures including Chief Bola Ige and Chief Lateef Jakande.
According to Falae Onabanjo eventually identified the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin as the right successor saying leadership within the organisation emerged naturally.
He noted that Ajasin a year older than Awolowo was among the Action Group founders and played a significant role in developing the party’s free education programme.
Falae said Ajasin eventually became Afenifere’s leader after Awolowo’s death and the late Senator Abraham Adesanya succeeded Ajasin after his death.
He added that Fasoranti became acting leader after Adesanya who was ill nominated him.
Falae said he expected the same tradition to guide the emergence of Fasoranti’s successor.
‘I’m sure a leader will emerge without any struggle. If you ask many Afenifere people they will tell you who they think will be their next leader.
‘The leadership chooses itself. It is obvious who the next leader will be. It is always so. And I hope and pray it will be so this time’ he said.
He however expressed the hope that Afenifere would sustain its tradition of orderly leadership transition and preserve the unity of the organisation despite the loss of its long-standing leader.