The leader of Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-political organization, Ayo Adebanjo, has warned the people of Nigeria against casting their votes for the wrong presidential candidate at the upcoming election.
The elder statesman reiterated that while enjoying in his grave, Nigerians would live to bear the consequences of their decision today.
He made this known at an interview with TheNiche while explaining the rationale behind his decision not to endorse the presidential aspiration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Adebanjo, as always, insisted on Igbo presidency, saying it’s the turn of the people of South East to produce Nigeria’s President.
He pointed out that Nigeria could only get better if the upcoming elections were done appropriately with the right results.
The Afenifere leader called on the people to shine their eyes and resist the temptation of selling their votes to politcians, for the sake of Nigeria’s future.
He maintained that If Peter Obi the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, failed to emerge the next president of the country, that’s the end of Nigeria.
Responding to a question on why he wasn’t supporting Tinubu, he said “Yes, if we get the forthcoming elections right. I am hopeful but only if Peter Obi wins the February 25 presidential election. Unless Peter Obi wins the election, and I am mentioning Peter Obi because all other candidates are not qualified. Are you listening?
“Any other thing to the contrary, there will be problems. I have said it before and I am repeating it without any element of doubt in my mind. If for any reason, the election is scuttled or manipulated, and Obi doesn’t win, I say emphatically, that is the end of Nigeria.
“Take for instance Bola Tinubu from my own region, on the basis of the agreement for peace and equity, the Yoruba people had their share when Olusegun Obasanjo became the president. I am skipping all that led to the Obasanjo presidency because I know you are pressed for time. And after Obasanjo, the power went back to the North and we had Umaru Yar’Adua. After Yar’Adua, it came back to the South, and we have Goodluck Jonathan and after Jonathan, it went back to the North and now we have Muhammadu Buhari about to complete his second term of eight years.
“And after Buhari, power is coming back to the South. How do the Yoruba come in again when they have had their turn? Or is it the South-South? The only region that has not had its turn is the Southeast. And for Atiku Abubakar, how can a Northerner leave Aso Rock and another Northerner moves in? Northerners have had their own share under Yar’Adua and Buhari. So, the Atiku presidency will be the third time for the North. And no chance for the Southeast? Is that equity?”
“They should open their eyes; shine your eyes. If you allow anybody to buy your votes, you are in a dungeon. Well, if it doesn’t happen, when the result will come, I will be enjoying myself in the grave. I am only saying it for those who are coming behind.
“You may not have heard this, I told my colleagues that I prayed to God before to take the issue of the president of Nigeria out of my mind. Why should I be bothering myself with this mess when I lived in this country before now when my children were in the university in the 1950s, 60s and even 70s and I told them if you make a First Class, I will buy you a car? How many families can say that now when they cannot even buy a bicycle? That is why you cannot have the passion that I have. The whole thing has degenerated completely.”
