Guardian

SIR: I was alarmed but later bemused when I read about Afenifere’s press conference in the media recently. Seated with Afenifere’s chieftains were Senator Iyiola Omisore and Mr. Yinka Odumakin. Odumakin was the vocal spokesperson of the group that broke away from Afenifere. What then has happened to honour?

Afenifere was established in 1951 by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and his associates. Since then, it remained the rallying point for the progressives in the South West geopolitical zone in Nigeria. Since 1999 when the current democratic dispensation took its root, things took a new dimension with real disciples of Awolowo trying to align themselves together to pursue the authentic Awo’s vision in governance.

It was during this process that Senator Omisore came to the fold, especially when the Alliance for Democracy (AD) was being formed and he became the deputy governor of Osun State.

Due to obvious differences and discordant tune of the political music at that time, it was clear to all that Omisore did not belong to the fold. Things began to fall apart in the party and in the leadership of the Osun State Government, leading to his impeachment as the deputy governor. Since then, Senator Omisore has left the AD to pitch his tent with the PDP. His party deployed all resources at its disposal to fight Awo’s once united political family with intent of total annihilation. This culminated in the annihilation of the AD in the South West with Bola Tinubu of Lagos State the only man standing.

Afenifere has since unravelled and the various leaders have joined different political parties. While some are still in the ACN, some have joined PDP while many of them are with Labour Party. It is curious therefore to see Omisore nesting comfortably with Afenifere. Has Afenifere become Afenifere-PDP? Let them tell us so that we can know where they stand. What they are up to and what scheme they may be plotting is yet to be known but Omisore has his eyes on Osun State governorship election next year. Are they Omisore’s friends and part of his campaign group? Time will tell.

Omisore had surreptitiously crept into the rank of the Afenifere group again the way he did in 1999. This romance obviously is like a political cancer that should not be allowed to fester. Anything to the contrary can only constitute a death sentence to the peace and tranquillity being enjoyed in the region.

• Kunle Omideyi,

Surulere, Lagos.