Afenifere Urges Southwest Leaders to Place Governance Above Party Politics

Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, has urged political leaders across Nigeria—particularly those from the Southwest—to place governance and public service above partisan interests.

The group’s leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, made the appeal on Wednesday during the ongoing two-day Southwest Stakeholders Dialogue held in Akure, Ondo State.

Fasoranti charged ministers and political representatives from the region to move beyond party rivalry and focus on policies and actions that deliver tangible results to citizens. He said that leadership should be measured not by political loyalty but by meaningful contributions to development and public welfare.

“Our ministers must always remember that they are not just cabinet members but the voices of an entire people whose dreams and struggles they must defend,” Fasoranti stated. “They must put governance first before party loyalty to uplift the poor and ensure inclusive progress.”

He further urged federal ministers from the Southwest to work hand in hand with state governors, regardless of political affiliation, to guarantee a fair share of national projects and resources for the region.

“Collaborate with your governors irrespective of party lines,” he added. “Make sure federal initiatives and resources reach the Southwest equitably. That is how true leadership is defined.”

The elder statesman stressed that the call for unity and accountability transcends politics, describing it as a moral obligation to protect the Yoruba heritage and advance the collective interests of the region within Nigeria’s federal structure.