Former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, on Tuesday, formally joined Afenifere, the apex Yoruba socio-cultural organisation.
Oyinlola was received at a meeting of Afenifere held at the residence of Oba Oladipo Olaitan, the national leader of the group.
Speaking at the event, Oyinlola said his decision to join Afenifere was linked to his family background and Yoruba identity, noting that his late father, Moses Oyinlola, influenced his ties to the organisation.
He recounted that while he was governor, leaders of Afenifere—led by the late Ayo Adebanjo and others—visited him and reminded him that, as a Yoruba man, he should belong to the group. Oyinlola also said some of his colleagues were members of Afenifere or had good relationships with it, even while in other political parties.
He appreciated Oba Olaitan for granting him recognition and honour.
Oba Olaitan said the meeting had in attendance members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), adding that he had established the SDP in Osun State and that leaders from the party had “come together again,” describing them as “one family.”
He also expressed displeasure with how Nigeria is being governed, saying Nigerians must change the country’s direction, and pledged that “everything necessary would be done” to effect change “legitimately” and “legally”.
The chairman of Afenifere in Osun, Architect Goke Omigbodun, described the meeting as extraordinary because SDP leadership joined the event. He stated that Afenifere had earlier established the SDP, and that the “core” of Afenifere had continued within the party, adding that the group was celebrating the re-emergence of that arrangement.
NAN
