The Founder, O’odua Peoples Congress, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, has said the recent spate of insults hurled by the national coordinator of the group, Chief Gani Adams against former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is well-deserved.
According to Fasehun, the duo gave Adams the wings with which he is flying.
The OPC coordinator last week lampooned Obasanjo for refusing to acknowledge the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the leader of Yoruba, and Tinubu for allegedly incurring the wrath of other Yoruba leaders because the ex-governor undermined their authorities.
However, Fasehun, in an interview at the weekend, said the OPC had its principles which it still maintained.
He pointed out that those who could not follow the laid-down principles, were the ones that created their factions.
He added that while the constitution of the group did not allow its leaders to dictate to its members, the ideals of the group were still being maintained.
“Some people might have deflected from the principles, I won’t deny that. That is why we have factions here and there”, he stated.
When asked if Adams’ recent comments on Obasanjo and Tinubu represented the general position of the OPC on the individuals, Fasehun stated that he maintained cordial relationship with the two leaders, urging Nigerians to ask why Adams’ relationship with them turned sour.
The OPC founder pointed out that the political interest being pursued by the Adams-led faction was different from what his faction stands for, adding that the group remained non-political.
The Adams-led OPC had prior to the 2015 presidential election, endorsed Goodluck Jonathan as it candidate and even campaigned for his re-election in the South-West.
Fasehun said, “They gave him wings and he has to fly with the wings they gave him. You should first find out about the original relationship between those who are abusing now and those who have been abused.
“I maintain cordial relationship with them. These coordinators (of the OPC) were given wings to fly with and our people did not see that the fact that they were persuading these people to kick against the good might one day turn against them. And that is precisely what is happening.
“Why are there OPC factions? Who encouraged the break-up? These are the questions people should be asking”.
Mr. Fasehun maintained that Adams’ controversy with politicians was not an embarrassment to him or the group.
