A leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, has debunked some claims made by another leader of the group, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, in a recent interview with the Nigerian Tribune.

Senator Fasanmi, in a statement he personally signed and made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday, described some contents of Sir Ajayi’s interview as embarrassing.

The Ekiti State-born elder statesman noted a particular portion of the said interview, where Sir Ajayi was quoted as saying: “Bola Ige told his friend, Ayo Fasanmi, who was the party’s deputy leader for the South-West and a close friend of Ige, that he (Bola Ige) would destroy the Alliance for Democracy and inherit any remnant that would be left. But has Bola Ige inherited the AD and Afenifere?”

 “Of particular concern to me was reference made by Olaniwun Ajayi to Chief Bola Ige and myself. It was Chief Ajayi’s contention that Uncle Bola told me that he was going to break the AD and inherit whatever faction that may be left of the party.

“Sir Olaniwun and my humble self wear the same age tag as knight of the Methodist Church and elder statesmen. I would have expected him to ponder on what message we intent to carry to our great leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, when both of us pass on to the great beyond.

“We should be builders of new society, structured on the philosophy of our great leader, Awo. To put it mildly, Olaniwun Ajayi’s statement in the interview, on Bola Ige and me, is in bad taste. I am highly embarrassed by what Ajayi referred to in the interview; the remark he alleged I made about one of the best friends and political colleagues that I have ever had. His statement is condemnable.

“I never, at any time, had such discussion with Olaniwun. It is very sad that as a result of political prejudice, some people do not want the soul of the dead to rest in peace.

“The labour of our heroes past, of which Bola Ige was a leading light, must not be in vain. APC/Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) is going stronger. Let Olaniwun wait till 2015 when true progressives will take over the mantle of leadership from forces of impunity and militarism. Bola Ige is not dead; Awo’s philosophy in him lives on.”