Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, says he can never forgive the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj.Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), because of the sins he committed against Yoruba leaders while he was head of state between December 1983 and August 1985.
The 87-year-old, who was a close associate of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, said Buhari locked up all the Yoruba governors after overthrowing the Shehu Shagari government.
Adebanjo said this at a post-National Conference in Lagos titled, ‘Into tomorrow and beyond’ on Thursday.
He said, “Back then, Awolowo warned Shagari that his government would soon hit the rock if he did not put things in order. Shortly after, in December 1983, Buhari overthrew the government but the man that was speaking against Shagari (Awolowo), was harrassed by Buhari.
“Buhari picked up all the Yoruba governors: Adekunle Ajasin (Ondo State); Olabisi Onabanjo (Ogun) and others, who were true progressives and locked them up.
“Somebody said I am a Christian and I should forgive Buhari but I said I cannot forgive such. Ajasin’s children say they have forgiven Buhari but I am not in their party, I can’t forgive him.”
Adebanjo said the North was against the implementation of the resolutions of the confab because the region was enjoying the system which is unfavourable to southern Nigeria.
He, therefore, urged Yoruba to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan next week as he had promised to implement the report of the confab.
He also dismissed claims that he and other Afenifere leaders had been bribed by Jonathan.
He said, “I am saying vote Jonathan not because he is Ijaw or from the South-South. No northerner will convoke a national conference because everything we are talking of that has been unfavourable to the South; they (North) are the beneficiaries.”