Sunday, January 21 was symbolic. It was the celebration of the sixth anniversary of the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams. It was a gathering of who is who and a well-decorated event held at the heart of the city of Lagos in Ikeja.
The annual event was very key to the success of the stool and Iba Gani Adams is up and doing in projecting the history and the importance of the most revered chieftaincy title of the Yoruba race.
He is right, history is the best way to learn about the past and image is also potent, most especially to the race that has lost touch with their past history. We cannot thank Iba Gani Adams enough for rekindling the hope of our race and also for restoring our cultural identity.
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After two decades of the death of his predecessor, the late Aare MKO Abiola, Iba Gani Adams became the
15th Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land. And exactly six years ago, fate thrusted on him the most respected traditional title in Yoruba land and he became the generalissimo of our race at a very elaborate gathering in Oyo.
I remember on that day- Saturday January 13, 2018, Oyo town was alive with dignitaries that thronged the Durban stadium, venue of the ceremony, to witness the event.
The late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III was the chief host and he confessed openly that Oyo had never witnessed such an overwhelming crowd that graced the event in the long history of the town.
As one of the members of the event planning committee, we had a long list of guests and it was a herculean task managing the large turnouts of guests.
There were no fewer than 1670 traditional rulers in attendance; and they came from every part of the South West, including Togo, Ghana and Benin Republic. Over a hundred thousand guests from all over the world were present at the historic gathering.
That event in Oyo truly reflected the general acceptability of the position in Yoruba land and even beyond. So, Aare Gani Adams is, no doubt, a man of the people.
The general acceptability of the position of the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land was a testimony of the unity among the Yoruba Obas. And that was what fired him up in the discharge of his duty as the Yoruba generalissimo.
Apart from the general acceptability of the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, the stool is not meant for the cowardly. It is a position for the few courageous men who are ready to risk everything for the Yoruba race.
That was the position held by the late SL Akintola and late Moshood Olawale Abiola, who was Aare Gani Adams’ predecessors.
In Yoruba history, the position and the stool of the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land had just 15 occupiers in its over 500 years of existence, and it remains a reference point for the Yoruba traditional institution till date. So, when Iba Gani Adams is talking passionately about the stool, he is telling us about the rich tradition of our race. He is telling us about our culture and he is telling us about how the position of the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land is very unique to the race.
In his inaugural speech on that day, Iba Gani Adams spoke extensively about what was expected of him as the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, his roles and his plans for the race
He made one vow- that he is going to protect the interest of the Yoruba race wherever he is and at all times.
That is the thrust of his mandate as the 15th Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land.
He started the journey on the right path. His first point of call was the historic visit to the ancestral homes of his predecessors. He visited the ancient town of Iwoye in Ketu. He visited Ogbomosho. He also visited Abeokuta, and Ibadan to meet with the families of his predecessors.
The idea of the visit then was to identify with his root and strengthen the bond between the past and the present. He was determined to raise the bar of leadership by ensuring that the stool regains its pride of place in Yoruba history.
Highlighting the success of his tenure as the 15th Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land in the last six years, I make bold as to say that Aare Gani Adams is fulfilling destiny in the most amazing manner.
He came on board when the Yoruba language was gradually going into extinction. It is a big problem when those that are supposed to speak and promote our native language fail to do so. They tagged Yoruba language as “vernacular”. So when he came on board, he did his best to solve the problem, making sure that the Yoruba language is sustained across the globe. He did well by promoting the culture of our race.
Interestingly, God’s hand in Iba Gani Adams’ position was divine. It was ordained because it came at a time when the south west was being ravaged by a spate of insecurity. And he did well in curtailing the scourge.
From his background, it is no worry that Adams’ antecedents as the national coordinator of the vibrant Oodua People’s Congress and the global convener of the foremost diaspora organization – the Oodua Progressive Union speak for itself.
I am sure this was what the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi painstakingly measured up before choosing Adams for the coveted position of the generalissimo of Yorubaland.
His achievements in the last six years were legion. He was the brain behind the establishment of the South West Security Network code named Amotekun in the south west. Not relenting, Adams also established the South West Security Stakeholders Group (SSSG) comprising more than 15 security outfits. The SSSG was at the vanguard of securing the region against insurgency.
Adams six years on the throne also witnessed the inauguration of the Aareonakakanfo Chiefs in Council.
The council comprising prominent individuals across all disciplines are the chieftains of Aare Gani Adams.
Their main jobs are to support the throne in delivering his duties for the race. There is also the Aare Advisory Committee. They are to offer advice to the generalissimo at every point in time on the need to fulfill his dreams for the race.
His eventful six years was never a jamboree. In the education sector, he also used the office of the Aare Onakakanfo to create a scholarship scheme to brilliant undergraduates in the south west. It is worthy to say here that over 1000 students have benefitted from the scheme across Yoruba land and beyond.
Recently, one of the beneficiaries of the Aareonakakanfo scholarship scheme bagged a first class degree Honours at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife.
In the last six years, Aare Adams’ foundation touched the lives of many indigent people. Annually, he usually spreads his kind hands of generosity to the poor.
Iba Gani Adams’ resolve for peace and unity across Yorubaland and beyond is prominent as he usually preaches the gospel of peace and unity through religious liberalism.
To fulfil this lofty purpose, Adams has succeeded in using the office of the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land to organize the Christmas Carol and Ramadan lecture to tell the world that religion should not be an issue in seeking peace.
In conclusion, so far, so good. We can count his great achievements on and on. So, as we celebrate the sixth year of his eventful years, it is very important to note that Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams has judiciously used his position as the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land to fulfil some of the dreams of the Yoruba race.
.Kehinde Aderemi writes from Lagos