By Gbenga Sodeinde
A former House of Assembly candidate in Ekiti State in 2007, Mr Ayodele Adegbuyi, has carpeted factional Leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, over his endorsement of LP presidential candidate in the last polls.
Specifically irked by recent outburst of Chief Adebanjo for defending and assisting the Chairman of Elders Forum of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, to deny a news credited to him, where he had allegedly called Yorubas ‘political rascals’.
The vividly angry Adegbuyi said in his reaction: “I know my leader if I see one. Those who were parading themselves as Afenifere leaders, with due respect and who claimed to be speaking on our behalf especially as far as Presidential election is concern, were speaking for themselves and not for Yorubas
“I am speaking particularly in respect to Adebanjo’s support for Peter Obi and yet claiming to be speaking for Yorubas.
“Yes, as an individual and as a Nigerian chief Adebanjo has the right to support whoever he wishes to support, but he should be warned to stop claiming that he is speaking for Yorubas.
“If a man is supporting Obi, he has his constitutional right to be doing so, the unwarranted and reckless statement made by one Iwuanyanwu from the East recently that drew the wrath of respected Yoruba people was being withdrawn by Adebanjo who claimed to be speaking for Yorubas
“Adebanjo should not drag us to his political agenda, if he is supporting Obi, let him be doing so alone and stop claiming to be speaking for us while he is pursuing his own selfish agenda.
“He should not bring Yorubas into this. Adebanjo is not speaking for me, he is not speaking for us and he is not speaking for Yorubas as far as I am concerned, he is speaking for his family members alone”,. Adegbuyi added.