Afenifere Leadership Controversy and Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Insights from Chief Sola Ebiseni
Chief Sola Ebiseni, Secretary General of Afenifere, has shed light on the organization’s leadership controversy and national issues. The leadership of Afenifere has moved to the Oyo/Osun axis, with Oba Oladipo Olaitan appointed by Pa Fasoranti to deputise the late Chief Ayo Adebanjo.
On reconciliation, Ebiseni noted that the current disagreement within Afenifere is not deep-seated but rather a reflection of the organization’s evolution. The disagreement is between strict adherence to its historical socio-political character and the new romance with being a Yoruba socio-cultural Organisation of all-comers.
Regarding infrastructure development, Ebiseni commended monumental initiatives, particularly in road infrastructural development. However, he faulted the Federal Government over the realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway along the Ondo and Delta states corridors, alleging that the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, is insincere regarding the project.
According to Ebiseni, archival records show that the road was proposed around 1900. He questioned why the road should become impossible in oil-producing areas that provide funds and criticised the project’s realignment, saying, “Who takes such nonsense from government? Why would Tinubu not be accused that the road is only a scam to open up more coastal real estate business in Lagos?”
Ebiseni expressed concerns about the project’s redirection from the coastlines of Ondo and Delta states, despite the potential for coastal business and several advantages available in the area. “It is better for the President to live for posterity than allow himself to derail on the altar of political expediency,” he said, while commending Reno Omokiri’s fact-finding tour of the road, which he believes communicates better than the government’s actions.