Fasehun misrepresenting OPC, Yoruba – Gani Adams

[Punch]

The contention between two leaders of the Odua People's Congress is far from being over as Chief Gani Adams says Dr. Frederick Fasehun is misrepresenting the OPC and the Yoruba race.

While reacting to comments earlier made by Fasehun in Sunday PUNCH, Adams noted that recent activities and comments by Fasehun after the release of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former chief security officer to the late Sani Abacha, showed that he had deviated from the original reasons for setting up the group.

In a statement signed by the group's General Secretary, Mr. Tanimowo Babajide, Adams stated that the main reason for establishing the OPC was and still remains to defend the interest of the Yoruba race.  Among other things, Adams denied claims by Fasehun that he (Adams) was sponsored to malign him.

Adams thus challenged Fesehun to name the alleged sponsors.

He said he wouldn't have responded to the comments but needed to put the records straight.

He said his current grouse with Fasehun stemmed from his 'unholy alliance with Al-Mustapha.'

Adams regretted that Fasehun's recent comments since the release of Al-Mustapha showed that he was fast losing popularity as an advocate for the Yoruba.

He said, "There is no need repeating the fact that Fasehun is misrepresenting the OPC and the Yoruba race in general.

"In trying to deceive the Yoruba race, Fasehun decided to choose the UPN as the name for his political party. He also claimed that his visit to Kano had given his party a political mileage. But nothing can be farther from the truth than this claim.

"In those dark days of the battle for the restoration of the June 12 mandate, most of us were always surprised that Abacha and his men always seemed to know much about our strategies and plans. But we are now convinced that the source of those leaks was no other person but Fasehun.

"Let him be reminded that Otunba Adams' criticism was based on Fasehun's unholy romance with Al-Mustapha, who was fingered in the killing of the late Kudirat Abiola, a Yoruba woman and wife of the late MKO Abiola, the martyr of our democracy.

"He should face the issue. What this means is that Fasehun's unholy alliance with Al-Mustapha predates his trial.

"Adams has remained consistent with the dream behind the formation of the OPC, which was to fight for the rights of the Yoruba race and the right for self-determination.

"I hereby throw an open challenge to Fasehun to join me on a walk on the street of any town in Yoruba land for a popularity test if he is truly sure of his acceptance."



The Punch