In Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, on Wednesday, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the head of the pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group Afenifere, ran a campaign for Peter Obi, the LP’s nominee for president.
The elderly man claimed he does not despise All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu, but the 2023 Presidency is not about ethnicity during a brief speech to the crowd at the Adamasingba stadium.
“To critics saying this one (Obi) is Igbo, that one is Yoruba, the Presidency of Nigeria is not about Igbo or Yoruba but the whole of Nigeria,” he said.
In his remarks, Obi expressed “sincere appreciation” for the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo and other illustrious Yoruba figures, including Adebanjo, who he said stood for justice and equity.
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The presidetnal hopeful said, “What Adebanjo and Afenifere is standing for today is what will make the future of Nigeria, they are standing for equity, they are standing for fairness. Justice, equity and fairness should be the foundation of which we will build a united Nigeria.”
Adebanjo stated recently that Obi is still his preferred candidate despite Pa Reuben Fasoranti, his predecessor, endorsing Tinubu.
On October 30, 2022, Tinubu paid Fasoranti a visit at his home in Ondo State, when the elderly man ‘anointed’ him.
Adebanjo, 94, who took over as Afenifere leader from Fasoranti last year, stated that while he won’t want to pick fights with his predecessor, Obi is still his top choice for the February 2023 election.