There is no basis for comparing my chiefs and those of Alaafin — Aare Ona Kakanfo

Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, on Wednesday installed new chiefs.
The newly installed chiefs, 16 of them, were drawn from different professions.
Speaking at the installation, Aare Adams stated that there was no reason for comparison between the Aare Onakakanfo’s chieftains and those of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.
Aare was reacting to the news making the rounds in some quarters that King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal was installed Mayegun of Yorubaland by Oba Adeyemi to compete with the Mayegun Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, stressing that the news was the plan of some mischiefmakers that were doing everything possible to twist history and misinform the public.
Adams pointed out that Alaafin is the only monarch with the pre-requisite power to appoint a chief representing the entire Yorubaland, adding that he was just doing his traditional roles as the Generalissimo of Yorubaland.
He said those appointed into the new Aare Ona Kakanfo Council of Chiefs were men and women of credible character.
He said: “The stool of the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland is historic.
“It was created in 1530 and dedicated to the head and king of all warriors in Yorubaland.
“As it was in the beginning, and over the ages, as well as now, the Aare Ona Kakanfo, as the Generalissimo of all warriors in Yorubaland, is kept in seclusion prior to his coronation.
“It was Alaafin, the Imperial Majesty, that has the power to install Aare Ona Kakanfo and other chieftaincy titles that cover the entire Yorubaland.
“Once installed, the Aare Onakakanfo is mandated to have his Chiefs and Council of Chiefs.
“And all Aare Onakakanfos, since 1530, had Chiefs and Council of Chiefs.
“The only two exceptions in the long history of the institution were the late Aare S.L.A. Akintola, former Premier of the old Western Region, and the late Aare M.K.O. Abiola, winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, who could not constitute their councils due to the political developments of their respective periods.
“What we are doing today is aptly history in the making, no worries.
“At my inauguration as the 15th Aare Onakakanfo, our father, the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, and the Oyomesi gave me a specific mandate to carry out the functions of my office as the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland in tandem with the established tradition for the progress and wellness of Yorubaland.
“I was installed with a beaded crown called Ade Idikoko, a sacred crown used to install any Aare Onakakanfo, and a staff of office as the king of all warriors in Yorubaland, and this is what we replicate here today to show the unique import of tradition in Yoruba history.
“The installation committee did well in the selection of designated Aare Onakakanfo chiefs in council comprising people of note in the society.”
The newly installed Aare Onakakanfo Chiefs-in-Council include former Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola, Adegboyega Salvador, as Otun Aare OnaKakanfo of Yorubaland; former Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Director, News Agency of Nigeria, Akinola Osuntokun, as Ajagun-Nla Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland; retired Banker and Executive Director, Segun Sanni, as Bashorun Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland; former World Bank consultant, Dr. Gboyega Adejumo, as Gbonka Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland; former Director, Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court, Babajide Tanimowo, as Atoloye Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland; US-based Tax Consultant, Abiodun Adewale Kuku, as Otun Balogun Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland; and his wife, Bolanle Kuku, as Erelu Aare Ona kakanfo of Yorubaland.
Others were Sweden-based businessman and dealer, Chief Victor Adewale, as Akingbayi Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland; Alhaji Gani Wahab, also from Sweden, was installed as Tunaarese Aare Ona kakanfo of Yorubaland.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Fatai Adeshina emerged the new Opo-Akin AareOna Kakanfo of Yorubaland; and his wife, Fathia Adeshina, as Yeye Opo-Akin Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland; Oyo State Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee, Otunba Obafemi Arowoshola, as Agbaoye Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland; Esther Oyebola, Yeye Opeluwa Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland; and prominent security consultant, Ibrahim Adeleke, as Otun Baaregunwa Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland.