For over two decades, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has celebrated his birthday with pomp and ceremonies.
On each of the occasions, families, friends, colleagues and well-wishers converged on an expansive venue to rejoice and celebrate with the Yoruba Generalissimo.
But this year’s celebration was different, as it went beyond the usual partying and sharing of merriments.
Iba Adams intended to use the birthday anniversary to achieve two lofty objectives: to impact the lives of as many people as possible and also to appreciate God for the grace to witness yet another year.
So, he decided to extend his hands of generosity to orphans and the aged ones in Lagos.
On April 30, which was the symbol of the day he was born 51 years ago, the Aare Ona Kakanfo decided to have a special day with the elderly at Regina Mudi Elders Home, Mushin, and the SOS Children’s Home, Isolo.
At both facilities, Aare Adams gave various gifts, cash donations, beverages, food stuffs, household commodities, detergents, toiletries and different clothes to the needy.
The following day, May 1, the Oodua People’s Congress leader also played host to prominent guests, including monarchs, political bigwigs, leaders of socio-political groups, culture enthusiasts and activists, among others, at the Cannanland Events Centre, Lagos.
The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, was the royal father of the event, leading over 50 monarchs from the South West and beyond to the venue to bless Adams’s new age with prayers and words of wisdom.
The Oyo monarch also used the occasion to express displeasure at the security situation in the South-West.
He noted that insecurity has thrown the country into a huge tailspin.
Oba Adeyemi charged the federal government to be proactive in ensuring that the South-West is safe for residents.
“The monopoly of violence must be concentrated in government, but regrettably, we are not having that now. Bandits and kidnappers now have monopoly of violence than the government which is the reason why we are in this current situation,” the royal father said.
He also commended the Aare Ona Kakanfo for his courage, steadfastness and doggedness in the struggle for the liberation of the Yoruba race, adding that Adams has truly proved the gods right that his appointment was divine.
He said: “Aare Gani Adams’ appointment is divine and based on merit. It took me over five years to consult widely and seek the support of the gods in the spiritual realms before he was appointed.
“He didn’t contest for it; neither did he struggle for it. He was divinely appointed and my prayer is that he will lead Yoruba race for a longer time.”
Meanwhile, the Onifegunwa of Ifegunwa in Ile-Ife, Oba Adewole Adedire, who stood in for the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, extolled the virtues of the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, saying the obas and all those that matter most in the traditional institution in South West would always support him in ensuring that the South West is secured.
In his speech, Iba Adams expressed appreciation to all the guests and dignitaries that graced the occasion. He admitted also that the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic didn’t allow him to have an elaborated celebration last year when he turned 50, but that he was happy to celebrate his 51st birthday anniversary in a grand style.
He said: “Last year, we only managed to do the special thanksgiving programme; but today, I give glory to Almighty God for His grace to celebrate my new age. In commemoration of my 51st birthday, I am very happy and fulfilled to spread joy on the faces of indigent students in four of our tertiary institutions in South-West.
“Therefore, today Aare Onakakanfo Foundation will give cash donations and scholarship to four indigent students from four different universities, namely, University of Lagos, University of Ife, University of Ibadan and Lagos State University.”
He said the cash donation was to encourage the students to take the Yoruba language serious so that it would not go into extinction.
Adams also urged the Federal Government to make sure that the southwest is safe for people, adding that the government has the capacity to improve the quality of education across the country by initiating programmes that can help brilliant but indigent students across the country.
“As far as I am concerned, this is just the beginning. Aare Ona Kakanfo Foundation will continue to support the students. We will also extend this laudable gesture to other universities,” he added.
Beneficiaries of the donations included Alabi Monsurat, from University of Lagos; Oritok Ayinde Kafayat Adenike, from the University of Ibadan; Okegbemi Taiwo from Lagos State University and Nurudeen Abass Adesinmi from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
One of the beneficiaries, Ayinde Kafayat Adenike, who spoke on behalf of other students, applauded Aare Gani Adams’s gesture, adding that the donations would definitely spur them on to do more, especially in their respective disciplines.
“To our daddy, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, it is wonderful to be part of your annual success story and I want to assure you that we will not disappoint you. We will go out there to promote those values and ideals that you believe in and epitomise as a leader and role model of our race,” she noted.
The birthday party was graced by prominent guests, including royal fathers, from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States.
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