- Says Ebiseni not speaking for mainstream Afenifere, but betrayers
The spokesman of the Yoruba sociopolitical organisation, Afenifere, in Ondo State, Chief Eric Oluwole, has knocked a former commissioner in the state, Chief Sola Ebiseni, over his opposition to the realignment of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project by the Federal Government.
He distanced the overall mainstream Afenifere led by Pa Reuben Fasoranti as National Leader, and Hon Korede Duyile as Ondo State Chapter Chairman, from the statement of Ebiseni, made under the office of the “Secretary General of Afenifere”.
In a statement in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Wednesday, Oluwole dissociated the mainstream Afenifere, led by “our Papa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, from the position of Chief Sola Ebiseni, which he expressed recently under the office of the “Secretary General of Afenifere.”
Oluwole said: “Let it be known, and I say categorically, that the position of one Chief Ebiseni, which he recently expressed as the “Secretary General of Afenifere”, is his personal position and that of Afenifere betrayers. It is not the position of the mainstream Afenifere, which is a refined and responsible organisation.
“As much as he, like everyone else, is entitled to his personal opinion on any issue, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he was not speaking on behalf of the mainstream Afenifere, whose overall Leader is known worldwide as Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti.
“I hereby inform the general public that the view he expressed on the realignment of the commendable Lagos- Calabar coastal road project by the Federal Government, departs from the view of the mainstream Afenifere on the subject.
“In fact, Afenifere Leader, Papa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, has commended His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for embarking on the historic Lagos-Calabar coastal road project, which he strongly believes, will contribute significantly to Nigeria’s socioeconomic development, and open up the long-neglected coastal and oil producing areas of the country, for development not only by government, but also by private investors.
“The general opinion in Ondo State and the Southwest in general, on the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project being executed by the Federal Government, is that of commendation to the President Tinubu administration, for taking the bold step to revive the long-abandoned project, dating far back to the colonial days.
“Our people generally believe strongly that the Lagos-Calabat coastal road project is long overdue, and that the Tinubu administration which now boldly steps forward to execute the project, and thereby redeem the past error of neglect, of all his predecessors in office since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, should be commended for embarking on this economically transformative project. The President should be encouraged to do better.
“The Lagos-Calabar road project is a good and commendable step by the Federal Government, to ease the long-term burden of the long-neglected people of the coastal and oil producing areas of our country, and rapidly transform the living conditions of the people, who for ages, have been long neglected, and have been helplessly battling with numerous unspeakable and intolerable hazards, and environmental degradation occasioned by recurring natural and man made disasters.
“Afenifere strongly believes in the Tinubu administration, and the commendable steps it has taken particularly on the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project, and the necessary adjustment of the plan, all with a view to ameliorating the living conditions of the people of Nigeria’s coastal and oil producing areas, and delivering a quality and durable road that will stand the test of time.”
