Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, has accused President Bola Tinubu of sliding into fascism reminiscent of Gen. Sanni Abacha’s days.
The group’s National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, made the remarks during an interview on a National Television programme in Lagos.
Faloye described Tinubu’s administration as a “colossal failure” that has been hounding perceived opponents.
He said, “We are concerned about how this administration is going. Not only is the NLC President being harassed, but we have hundreds of people in jail for treason for partaking in hunger protests… The economy has completely collapsed under this present administration, people who have been outspoken against the administration are being arrested and detained… We have criminalization of protest under Tinubu where peaceful protesters are threatened, harassed, attacked, arrested and detained unjustly. What do you call all these other than fascism?”
Faloye also stated that the group is planning to create a political party to wrest power from the ruling government in the 2027 general election.
He said, “Afenifere is in the process of creating a political party that will practice the real democratic principles, ideology and philosophy of late Pa Chief Obafemi Awolowo and clamour for constitutional reform, restructuring of the country, among others.”
On the speculation of a faction within Afenifere, Faloye declared, “We don’t have any faction in Afenifere organization. What we have are a few disgruntled elements who are often hoodwinked by pecuniary gains to support Tinubu administration because of stomach infrastructure… Despite this, Afenifere is still intact as one entity. Chief Ayo Adebanjo is still the subsisting head of Afenifere after the resignation of Pa Reuben Fasanroti who remains our leader. There is no contention about this.”
