Suspended Afenifere members say query wasn’t issued before action was taken 

…did not have the chance to defend themselves 

Jare Ajayi, the  suspended National Publicity Secretary of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has disclosed that he was not allowed to defend himself after allegations were levelled against him. 

Suspended along with the National Organising Secretary, Abagun Omololu, Ajayi said by denying the chance to have a voice the group failed to stand by its ethics and regulation.

He said this on Tuesday, March 28th after he was suspended from the group by the leaders. 

“I, and to the best of my knowledge, Abagun Kole Omololu, the National Organising Secretary, were never issued a query let alone be asked to face any disciplinary committee. It is a big pity that an organisation founded on principles and that is guided by ethos and regulations could take seeming disciplinary actions against any member – not to talk of officials – without giving them an opportunity to respond to whatever allegations the leaders have against them.”

Ajayi said  his suspension was linked to the fact that recently he had issued two  press statements which some senior members of the group did not agree with.

He mentioned the two releases to include naira cash scarcity affecting the nation and a congratulatory message to the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

“In the heat of the sufferings being experienced by Nigerians in accessing their monies in the banks, I called on the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria to extend the deadline for the circulation of both the old and the new Naira notes by at least three months. 

“This was early in February before the pronouncement by the Supreme Court. A top officer of Afenifere called me to say that what I asked the government to do was not the position of the organisation. I asked him what the position was, the senior officer told me that the position will be stated after a meeting that was being contemplated. I said that people were suffering hence the statement I issued. And thereafter, the position of the organisation on the issue was never made known to me.

“The second occasion was when some members called me to express their displeasure over the statement issued to congratulate the President-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, after his electoral victory. Those who called me said that since Mr. Peter Obi and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar were still contesting Asiwaju’s victory, it was wrong to congratulate him,.” he said.

The  duo were suspended indefinitely over alleged misconduct carried out by them to do things without permission from the leaders.

According to the communique issued at the end of the Afenifere meeting held at the residence of the leader of the group, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, at Isanya Ogbo Ogun State on Tuesday, the group “observed the uncouth activities and unauthorised statements in its name and to the constant denigration of the organisation, by Jare Ajayi, the National Publicity Secretary and Abagun Kole Omololu the National Organising Committee.”