Nigeria: Falae Dismisses Afenifere Split Rumours, Says No Succession Talks Before Fasoranti's Burial

What the report says

Oba Olu Falae, chairman of Afenifere’s National Executive Committee, has rejected reports that the pan-Yoruba socio-political group is heading for a split after the death of its leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti. In comments reported by Leadership and distributed by AllAfrica, Falae said talk of a breakaway faction or a leadership contest was premature and amounted to speculation.

He said Afenifere was not discussing succession at this stage and that the group’s immediate priority was arranging Fasoranti’s burial. According to the report, burial committees involving government representatives, Afenifere members and Fasoranti’s children were being set up to coordinate the funeral. Falae argued that, under Yoruba custom and Afenifere practice, succession should not be discussed before a deceased leader is buried.

The report also said there had been claims of moves by some members to rally behind Oba Oladipo Olaitan, as well as talk of forming a separate group called Afenifere Independent. Falae dismissed those claims and said anyone raising succession issues now could not be acting in the organisation’s interest.

He added that Afenifere leaders are not chosen through open contests, but emerge through broad acceptance by members after a vacancy occurs. The comments reflect the continuing sensitivity around leadership transitions in the organisation, which has long played a role in Yoruba political and civic affairs in southwest Nigeria.