After
what had appeared as a group's indecision, Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba
socio-cultural body, on Tuesday endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for the
February 14 election.
The
endorsement was the outcome of the meeting the president had with the leaders
of the group in Akure, Ondo State.
The
meeting was held at the residence of the Leader of the group, Chief Reuben
Fasoranti and attended by leaders from the South West geoplitical zone of the
country.
At
the end of the meeting which lasted about one hour, the publicity secretary of
Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin said the decision of the group was due to the
commitment of the president to the National Conference.
He
said Afenifere believed that the confab is the only thing that can
liberate the nation.
He
said the president had expressed his commitment to implement the report of the
confab report.
Odumakin
said the president informed them at the meeting that Yoruba were the ones that
were in the forefront of the clamour for the confab.
Also
speaking, Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko said what Afenifere did was
an unequivocal endorsement of the president.
Mimiko
said Afenifere expressed belief in the transformation agenda of the president
describing it as systematic and strategic for the development of the nation.
The
group, which had fraternised with the Jonathan administration, had before now
prevaricated on a full support scale to the Jonathan re-election bid.
But
in his response, a former governor of Anambra State and Deputy Director General
of South in the PDP campaign organisation, Mr Peter Obi said he was not
surprised at the Afenifere endorsement, stressing that, "Afenifere has
always committed itself to the best interest and unity of Nigeria", adding
that the endorsement meant that, "Nigeria will endorse Jonathan".
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Politics
I love Afenifere to the core, though an Igboman I am. This has indicated that the Yorubas as a 'Nation' meant well for the Nigerian project. COMMENDABLE INDEED!!
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