SDP Tackles Afenifere Over Omisore’s Suspension
The Osun State Chapter of Social Democratic Party (SDP) has urged members of the party and the people of the state to disregard the purported suspension of membership of Otunba Iyiola Omisore by Afenifere, a Pan-Yoruba Socio Cultural group.
The party while reacting to the development in Osogbo on Wednesday through its spokesman, Mr. Taiwo Akeju said the party is still studying the situation and position of Afenifere and will react to it appropriately.
Akeju explained that there was no step taken by Omisore that the party is not aware of, adding that the suspension is unknown to the party.
Afenifere, had on Tuesday, announced the suspension of Senator Iyiola Omisore for allegedly supporting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to win the rerun governorship election in Osun.
Omisore’s suspension was part of the decisions taken at the monthly meeting of the Afenifere, held at the residence of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting and read by a chieftain of the group, Chief Korede Duyile, the group said Omisore allegedly went against the position of Afenifere during the last governorship election in Osun State.
Meanwhile, Omisore had said he is yet to be informed on the Afenifere suspension, adding that he was not even given fair hearing over the matter.
He said, “it was the Osun Social Democratic Party (SDP) that passed a resolution for a coalition agreement with the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is the party’s supremacy in decision making.
‘’The Afenifere’s action is at variance to the reality on ground as far as the party politics in Osun State is concerned.
‘’I am unaware of the pan-Yoruba group’s directives because we also have bonafide, notable and active APC members in Afenifere.
“The interest of Osun SDP was the development of the state, and of the two parties involved in the rerun election, it was the APC that agreed to implement the SDP’s manifestos, the reason the decision was made.
“In as much as I am a member of Afenifere, SDP members in Osun State are not necessarily members of Afenifere. Osun politics is local and I acted in consonance with the position and the will of Osun SDP.