Afenifere Renewal Group Denies Endorsing Jonathan

Contrary to media reports that Yoruba socio-cultural group, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, the group on Wednesday distanced itself from the purported endorsement.

In a press statement signed by its publicity secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, the group described the use of its insignia to promote the said endorsement as fraudulent and an attempt to deceive Yoruba people.

According to the group, “it has come to our notice that some broadcast stations are using ARG’s name and logo to promote the said endorsement. This is fraudulent and we wish to advice media houses to be wary of such fraudulent promoters especially now that public interest must be defended by the media.

“The ARG is not a party to the endorsement and does not in fact think the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan since May 2010 is worth the endorsement of any patriotic citizen. We believe there is a difference between ‘transformation,’ which President Jonathan promised Nigerians in 2011 and mere ‘reform’ of the same governance culture that Nigerians have rejected.”

The group further stated: “the ARG does not dictate to the generality of the Yoruba people, rather it gives voice to their feelings and aspirations. The extensive consultations we have made showed that Yoruba people have come to a firm conclusion that they have been at the shorter end of the stick under the Jonathan-led government, under whose administration, nepotism and ethnocentrism have taken over as the emblem of our presidential politics.”

“ARG therefore stands with the aspirations of Yoruba people for change. As echoed in Abeokuta recently at the public lecture organised by the Ogun State chapter of ARG, the change that we demand include a public pledge to restructure the country in such a way that power will devolve to the most efficient federating units.”

The Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, had told journalists in Akure, the Ondo state capital on Tuesday after meeting with President Jonathan, that the group had endorsed the president who was in the state as part of his state wide presidential campaign.

The meeting took place at the residence of the National Chairman of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti.

Leaders that attended the meeting include governor Olusegun Mimiko of ondo State, two former governors of Osun and Ogun state Iyiola Omisore and Gbenga Daniel, Chief Ayo Adebanjo,

Sehinde Arogbofa, Chief Olu Falae, Supo Sonibare amonsgt other.