Document #1312010
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
According to Africa Confidential
of 11 September 1998, south-western leaders under the
umbrella of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba organization, met in
Ibadan to make "secessionist demands" on the current government of
Nigeria:
More than a thousand supporters heard
Yoruba leaders as disparate as National Democratic Coalition
(NADECO) Chairman Abraham Adesanya, former Oyo State Governor Bola
Ige, former Finance Minister Olu Falae, Frederick Fasehun, Bode
Olajuomoke, former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba and failed
presidential candidate Tunji Braithwaite demand a six-region
federation-each region with its own army, police and security
apparatus (2).
Africa Confidential states that
the north and middle belt regions now perceive Afenifere
as a "dangerously radical" group. Initially, Bola Ige and the
Afenifere reportedly held discussions with the strongest
party in current national politics, the People's Democratic Party
(PDP). Instead, Bola Ige, Olu Falae, and Abraham Adesanya
reportedly entered an alliance with Marafan Sokoto and former
Director of the National Security Organisation, Umara Shankafi, to
form the All People's party (APP). Apparently, Afenifere's
withdrawal from discussions with the PDP was "welcomed by many in
the party leadership who believe it will allow them to draft the
Abeokuta-born Obasanjo, whom they regard as fair, honest, and free
of ethnic baggage, instead of an Afenifere-backed
candidate" (ibid.).
A report in West Africa states
that leaders from eight Yoruba states met in Ibadan to "resolve
their political differences" (28 Sept-11 Oct. 1998). The leaders
were reportedly drawn from Afenifere and the APP. The
meeting ended by forming a committee charged with finding a
solution to the differences (ibid.). However, a report in the
Post Express of 19 September 1998, substantiates the rift
within Afenifere, particularly, between Olu Falae and
Chief Bola Ige. Although still a member of the Afenifere,
Olu Falae is affiliated to the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and not
the APP: "I'm contented with my membership of Alliance for
Democracy ... I am telling you that Afenifere is solid.
There is no squirmishes among the personalities in it. What you
have is the handiwork of bad people, but I can assure you that the
two of us are committed to AD" (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is
not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any
particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Africa Confidential [London].
11 September 1998. Vol. 39. No. 18. "Nigeria: Parties at Work."
Post Express. Adenigi Ojebisi.
19 September 1998. "Falae Disowns PDP." [Internet] http://www.postexpresswired.com
[Accessed 16 Nov. 1998]
West Africa [London]. 28
September - 11 October 1998. "Oyo."