Nigeria: Egbe Omo Afenifere including date of formation, founding members, and reports of arrests of its members
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | NGA29529.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Nigeria: Egbe Omo Afenifere including date of formation, founding members, and reports of arrests of its members, 1 June 1998, NGA29529.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aaf354.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The information contained in this Response was provided by NADECO representatives in Washington, DC, and Toronto, during separate telephone interviews with the Research Directorate (8 June 1998). Both officials stated that the Egbo Omo Afenifere is a founding member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), but emphazised that the Egbe Omo Afenifere continues to exist as an autonomous Yoruba organization.
The NADECO representative in Canada explained that the Egbe Omo Afenifere is a long standing political organisation representing the interests of the Yoruba in the western region (8 June 1998). He explained that it was originally known as the Action Group (AG), and formed the major opposition group in the post-independence government. He added that it later became known as the Egbe Omo Afenifere, which is the Yoruba translation of Action Group.
The NADECO official in Washington, DC, explained that the Egbe Omo Afenifere presented itself as a non-political, non-profit Yoruba cultural organisation during the Babangida regime for fear of reprisals. He stated that important NADECO personalities, one of whom, the late Chief Ajasin, was a member of the Egbe Omo Afenifere and was arrested at various times in Nigeria. This has also has been the case with Olu Falae who is also an Afenifere member (ibid.) For information on the arrest of Olu Falae, please consult Response to Information Request NGA29176.E of 30 April 1998, which is available at Regional Documentation Centres.
The arrest of Chief Ajasin in 1995 during a meeting of the Afenifere, was reported by several media (Agence France Presse 2 June 1995; AP 1 June 1995; Kenya News Agency 5 June 1995). For additional information on the arrest of Afenifere members in June 1995, please consult Response to Information Request NGA28529.E of 24 February 1997.
The NADECO (Canada) representative said that the current head of NADECO in Nigeria, Abraham Adesonya is also the head of Afeniferi. He further stated that the secretary general of the Afeniferi, Ayo Opadokun, was recently arrested in Nigeria. This is corroborated by an 8 May AFP report.
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
Agence France Presse (AFP). 8 May 1998. "Prominent Nigerian Opposition Leader Arrested at Airport." (NEXIS)
_____. 2 June 1995. "More than 50 Opposition Leaders Arrested in Fresh Clampdown." (NEXIS)
Associated Press (AP). 1 June 1995. Frank Aigbogun."Two Anti-Government Leaders Arrested in Nigeria." (NEXIS)
Kenya News Agency (Nairobi, in English). 5 June 1995. "Nigeria: 'At least 50' Arrests Reported Following Ilorin Explosion." (BBC Summary/NEXIS)
NADECO office. Washington, DC. 8 June 1998. Telephone interview with representative.
NADECO (Canada). Toronto. 8 June 1998. Telephone interview with representative.