Restructuring Remains Antidote to Nigeria’s Problems, Gani Adams, Chiefs insist

The Aare-in-Council rose from its last meeting of 2024 and reiterated their clarion call that restructuring remains the best solution to the plethora of problems plaguing the country, socially, politically and economically.

The call is in tandem with the position of the 15th Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Ige Adams, who has consistently called for country’s restructuring, insisting that regionalism remains the best option to put Nigeria on the path of development.

“From the nation’s social, political and economic trajectory so far, it is obvious that regionalism is the only sure-footed route to Nigeria’s development, and a ladder to joining the developed nations of the world,” the Aare-in-Council said in the communique.

The Council argued that it may also help stop the bleeding of Nigeria by unconscionable officials whose sole business in government is to steal the country bling.

The Council also called for policies that would make life “enjoyable and sustainable” in 2025, noting that the present living conditions of Nigerians demand policies that would reverse the current soaring inflation, stabilize the naira, and stop the unfortunate nose-diving of fortunes for majority of citizens.

This was one of the high points of a communique issued by the Aare-in-Council, a body of all the Chiefs of the 15th Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Ige Adams, at the end of their quarterly meeting held at the palace of the Aare Onakakanfo in Lagos, on Friday, December 27, 2024.

A statement issued by the Media Committee of the council, and signed by the Baaroyin Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Shola Oshunkeye, revealed that the meeting also deliberated at length on several issues relating to the development of the southwest and its people.

Presided by Iba Adams, the Council called for unity and cohesion among the Yoruba, at home and in the diaspora, as a panacea to the plethora of problems confronting the Yoruba nation in particular, the southwest in general.

The Council agreed that unity is pivotal to whatever lofty plans that leaders of the region may have for its development.

Item xiii of the communique harped on this where it says there is an urgent need for “the Yoruba race to come together and forge a common front,” noting that all cracks in the race’s wall must be cemented because “if there are no cracks in a wall, lizards cannot gain access into the House.”

In this regard, the Aare-in-Council urged the region’s leaders to construct formidable structures that will engender lasting peace, buoy economic progress, and fast-track the developmental pace of Yorubaland; adding that the leaders must never allow primordial interests to impede the region’s interests.

“We advise leaders not to subordinate the region’s interests to any self-promoting agenda,” the communique said. “These times call for focus, unity of purpose, and selfless commitment to the ideals of the founding fathers of Yorubaland.”

For the umpteenth time, the Council reiterated its readiness to work with the governors of the six southwest states on security matters to ensure that every form of crime, criminality and insecurity is reduced to the barest minimum, if not totally eradicated.

The Council commended the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Adams, for his dogged dedication to the promotion of Yoruba culture and heritage, and urged the governors of the six southwest state to make the teaching of Yoruba language and Yoruba history compulsory in all secondary schools across the southwest.

The Aare-in-Council also commended Obas in Yorubaland for their dedication and purposeful actions aimed at promoting Yoruba culture and heritage. It further urged the Obas to join hands and develop a template for more purposeful leadership for the southwest.

Members of the Council also restated their commitment to defend the interest of the Yoruba race anywhere and everywhere.

“As members of the Aare-in-Council, we remain committed to the defence of Yoruba race anywhere and everywhere,” the Council added.

Among the Chiefs that attended the meeting, both physically and via zoom from the diaspora, are: Osi Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Kayode Balogun; Parakoyi Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Prof. Kolawole Raheem; Gbonka Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gboyega Adejumo; Baaroyin Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Shola Oshunkeye; Otun-Baaroyin Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Segun Ajiboye; Baamofin Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Kehinde Oluwole: and Baameto Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Akeem Ademola Ige.

Also at the meeting are: the Atoloye Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Babajide Tanimowo; Asoju Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Barrister Yinka Oguntimehin;  Bareejiro Aare Onakakanfo, Dauda Asikolaiye; Yeye Opeluwa; Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs) Esther Oyebola; Akinluwa Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Olawale Mann; as well as the Agbaoye and Agbaakin Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland.

Others are: Akingbayi Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Victor Adewale; Yeye Gbareniyi, Eniola Owolabi; Tunarese Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Alhaji Gani Wahab; Bameeso and Yeye Baameso, Alhaji and Alhaja Otukoya; Agbaakin Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Adesanya; and Baala Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Moshood Aderoju; among others.