2015: Afenifere has not decided on any candidate – Odumakin
Yinka Odumakin is the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yoruba socio-political organisation. He is an activist and social crusader. In this interview, he opens up on various issues including the resuscitation of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) by Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, recent declaration of state of emergency in three northern states, various activities of Southern Peoples Forum, controversial comment of Asari Dokubo on President Jonathan’s 2015 ambition.
According to him, northern elders and Asari Dokubo’s comments on Jonathan’s 2015 ambition are careless and rubbish. He also disclosed that Afenifere has not taken decision on who to support for 2015 presidential race. He spoke with WALE ABIODUN
What is your view on the resuscitation of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) by Dr. Fredrick Fasheun?
For us in Afenifere, we have not had any formal engagement with Dr. Fredrick Fasheun over his resuscitation of UPN. I spoke with him at the personal level. But our leaders said at the last time we met that the appropriate time we will meet with him to know what its all about, what they are up to. Whoever wants to advance the course of Yoruba nation we will engage and see how what they are doing will liberate our people and encourage development.
For us in Afenifere, we have not had any formal engagement with Dr. Fredrick Fasheun over his resuscitation of UPN. I spoke with him at the personal level. But our leaders said at the last time we met that the appropriate time we will meet with him to know what its all about, what they are up to. Whoever wants to advance the course of Yoruba nation we will engage and see how what they are doing will liberate our people and encourage development.
Asari Dokubo statement that if President Jonathan does not secure second term, Nigeria will boil has generated controversy, what is your reaction to this?
All those statements from people like Ango Abdulahi, Farouk Adamu Alihu and the views of South-South and the north are just confirming our leader, Late Obafemi Awolowo’s position that Nigeria is just a mere political expression. That is why we have been calling for national conference, that we need to agree as a nation, as the people on what kind of country do we want and how do we relate as different nationalities. It shows that Nigeria is just a mere play thing; there is no attachment to it.
All those statements from people like Ango Abdulahi, Farouk Adamu Alihu and the views of South-South and the north are just confirming our leader, Late Obafemi Awolowo’s position that Nigeria is just a mere political expression. That is why we have been calling for national conference, that we need to agree as a nation, as the people on what kind of country do we want and how do we relate as different nationalities. It shows that Nigeria is just a mere play thing; there is no attachment to it.
I won’t see anybody in America today saying that if somebody does not win election that is the end of America. Farouk Adamu said if the presidency does not come from the north that is the end of Nigeria. I think what both the South-South people, Ijaw nation and the north is saying are insult to Yorubas. Yorubas have suffered injustice more than any other race in this country. We know what Awolowo went through in the first republic; we know a lot of injustice that has not been addressed. What we are demanding for now is justice, let us come together and discuss.
But for people from other nationalities to say Nigeria will end if they don’t have their way shows that there is no belief in this Nigeria. And if they continue this way, may be they will make Yoruba to rethink that may be they have been fooling all along. For us I have been saying that we are the only one that has been believing in Nigeria. There is no occasion we called for the break of Nigeria. We are the one that carry Nigeria on our head, who has been calling for national dialogue, let’s have federalism. The other people, if they don’t get their demand there will be no more Nigeria, because they don’t believe in Nigeria.
Those statements are rubbish and careless. For those that have spoken from Ijaw and the north will not get the support, because you cannot get the people’s support by threat.
Fredrick Fasheun said people should not crucify Asari Dokubo over his statement that there is nothing he said that has not been said by other Nigerians?
That is what I’m saying, that other leaders said same thing does not mean that it is right. All sides are wrong. It is unfortunate that Asari Dokubo said such careless statement and the leaders from the north come down to his level and saying the same thing. What difference are they portraying?
That is what I’m saying, that other leaders said same thing does not mean that it is right. All sides are wrong. It is unfortunate that Asari Dokubo said such careless statement and the leaders from the north come down to his level and saying the same thing. What difference are they portraying?
What is the relationship of Afenifere with Southern Peoples Forum that has been organizing events to drum support for President Jonathan’s 2015 ambition?
Afenifere as a group has not taken position on who to support for 2015 presidential race. When we take the position we will make it known to the public. As of now, Afenifere is watching things. We will discuss who we are supporting for 2015 and we will let the whole world know our position and why we take such position.
Afenifere as a group has not taken position on who to support for 2015 presidential race. When we take the position we will make it known to the public. As of now, Afenifere is watching things. We will discuss who we are supporting for 2015 and we will let the whole world know our position and why we take such position.
The presidency recently came up with what can be referred to as modified state of emergency in three northern states, what is the position of Afenifere on this development?
We in Afenifere, we support the declaration of emergency on the premise that Boko-Haram has done so much harm to the nation. But without recourse to the finesse of rule of law I will refer to it as martial law. We need to curtail the activities of the Boko-Haram. Two weeks ago I was in Dubai, I went to a pharmacy shop and I met the guy, he is an Indian guy and after he had sold to me the drug I wanted to buy, he asked me from where and I said from Nigeria. And he said oh oh he was in Lagos for two years before he went to Kano and I asked him what happened.
We in Afenifere, we support the declaration of emergency on the premise that Boko-Haram has done so much harm to the nation. But without recourse to the finesse of rule of law I will refer to it as martial law. We need to curtail the activities of the Boko-Haram. Two weeks ago I was in Dubai, I went to a pharmacy shop and I met the guy, he is an Indian guy and after he had sold to me the drug I wanted to buy, he asked me from where and I said from Nigeria. And he said oh oh he was in Lagos for two years before he went to Kano and I asked him what happened.
He said he was working with a technical company, that he was going out in a car with some clients and a car was coming behind them and all what they could heard from the car was gun shots that killed three people in the car. He said it was a loss to them carrying the three dead people to their country and that remains a traumatic experience for him that anytime he hears Nigeria, he remembers the incidence. Nobody heard of the incident and many people might have been killed like that.
Any responsible government must do something. Many people will support the emergency, but the other details whether this will bring the insurgency under control we will wait to see. We must take care of this insurgency and ensure that it doesn’t happen again.
Source: Nigerian Compass
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