Chief Ademola Folarin, a lawyer and the Agbaakin Maiyegun of Ibadan, told SpeakOX News that the pan‑Yoruba socio‑political group Afenifere remains a single, unified body despite circulating rumours of a split. As the organisation’s General Secretary, Folarin addressed the leadership crisis, the group’s recent political endorsement and broader questions about Nigeria’s democratic system.
Folarin confirmed that Afenifere officially endorsed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, reiterating the group’s support that was first announced in 2023. “We have no reason to change our mind now,” he said, adding that, in his assessment, Tinubu scores 80 percent on macro‑economic issues and 40 percent on micro‑economic matters, giving the incumbent an overall rating of 60 percent.
The secretary dismissed the notion of any viable alternative to Tinubu, arguing that the policies of opposition figures such as Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi are primarily aimed at undermining the president rather than presenting concrete economic plans. He criticised the opposition’s tactics, noting that Atiku’s recent trip to the United States to question Tinubu’s credentials is “what will put food on your table” only if it succeeds in toppling the government.
When asked about Nigeria’s political system, Folarin expressed a clear preference for the Westminster parliamentary model over the current presidential system, describing the former as “far cheaper and far more representative.” He explained that a parliamentary route would require campaigning only at the local level to secure a majority, whereas the presidential system demands a costly nationwide campaign.
Folarin also commented on the broader health of democracy, acknowledging its adversarial nature while suggesting that many of the world’s problems stem from democratic governance. He cited China and Gulf states as examples of alternative systems that combine constitutionalism with monarchical elements, stating that “the trouble spots in the world are the democracies.”
In response to reports that former Afenifere leaders Adebanjo and Fasoranti had acted independently—Adebanjo allegedly endorsing Peter Obi in 2023 without informing the group and Fasoranti backing Tinubu despite superseding his own leadership—Folarin maintained that such actions do not reflect a split within Afenifere. “There is only one Afenifere,” he affirmed, emphasizing the organisation’s continued cohesion and its unified political stance.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
