Afenifere’s truth-telling on national issues was praised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide on Wednesday.
Ohanaeze is unsurprised that Afenifere supports equity and justice.
The organization added that the Yoruba group has stood for truth whenever Nigeria faces a crossroads.
Ohanaeze, like Afenifere, believed Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi won the election.
Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, was declared president-elect by INEC.
Ohanaeze responded to Afenifere’s statement on March 28, 2023, after its monthly meeting at Chief Ayo Adebanjo’s home in Isanya-Ogbo, Ogun State, by saying the group once again showed its courage, tenacity, dedication, robustness, and unwavering commitment to pan-Nigerianism and Nigeria’s continued existence without caring whose ox was gored.
On Wednesday, Ohanaeze spokesman Alex Ogbonnia said, “We are persuaded that the Afenifere’s resolutions as published are fundamental and foundational to the current socio-political crisis gnawing at the heart of Nigeria; and that those resolutions speak truth to the conscience of the powers that be in Nigeria. Ohanaeze fully supports those resolutions and urges the Nigerian government to urgently restore public confidence and hope in the Nigerian project.
Afenifere has always stood for truth when Nigeria is at a crossroads, so its unwavering support for equity and justice is not surprising.
We recognize Afenifere’s role in restoring democracy to Nigeria through the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). Afenifere leaders formed the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which spawned the Committee for Unity and Understanding (CUU).
“We thank Afenifere for telling the world the truth about the February 25 Presidential election, which according to records was won by Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
“Furthermore, we commend the Afenifere for its reassurances of security and support to stranger communities in Yorubaland, particularly Lagos State, and for reassuring our people that there is no war between the Yoruba and any other group in Nigeria, especially the Igbo.”
Ohanaeze also praised the Yoruba group for strongly condemning “campaigns of calumny and acts of ethnic violence deployed by some politicians and their hired criminal gangs in several parts of the federation during the gubernatorial election, particularly in Lagos State where the election was made to appear like an inter-ethnic war between the Yoruba and the Igbo; which greatly led to voters’ suppression and other forms of brigandage and disenfranchisement.”
Ohanaeze urged other ethnic socio-cultural organizations to emulate Afenifere by advocating for equity and justice.
“We join Afenifere in restating our confidence in the judiciary with the hope that it will acquit itself creditably in the election litigations presently before it without fear or favour,” the group said.
“We want to record that when the history of Nigerian travails is written, Chief Ayo Adebanjo will feature most copiously on the side of justice, nobility, honour, courage, character and integrity.”
