BY DAMOLA EMMANUEL
The 15th Aare OnaKakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, makes history today as he installs 21 Chiefs who, he said, would constitute the Aare Onakakanfo-in-Council.
Adams said the body would be dedicated to the promotion of Yoruba traditions and culture as well as the preservation of Yoruba interests in general.
The epochal event holds at the 10 Degrees Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, starting from 10a.m.
Adams was installed the 15th Aare OnaKakanfo of Yorubaland by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III on January 13, 2018.
He succeeded billionaire businessman and Concord Publisher, Basorun Moshod Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the 14th Aare OnaKakanfo, who died in a military gulag on July 7, 1998, after drinking a cup of tea.
Aare Gani Adams is marking his first anniversary on the powerful seat with week-long activities, including: the launch of two books on Wednesday at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja; a novelty football match at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Thursday; and another book presentation yesterday. The grand finale holds on Sunday with a grand reception/presentation of documentary on the office of the Aare OnaKakanfo.
In constituting the council, Aare Adams, also co-founder of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, drew the Chief-Designates, all accomplished men and women, from all the states in South West Nigeria. They are from the academia, the professions, law, military, business and politics, to mention just a few.
The Chief-Designates are:
AARE ONA KAKANFO IN COUNCIL
S/N NAMES TITLED STATE
- MR. WALE ABEL BALOGUN KOGI
- ENGR. EMMANUEL AJIBERO OTUN KOGI
- MR. OLUSEGUN DARE AGBA-AKIN KOGI
- MRS. OLUREMI DARE YEYE AGBA-AKIN KOGI
- MR. SHOLA OSHUNKEYE BAAROYIN OSUN
- CAPT. MICHEAL ADESINA BAAREJIRORO OSUN
- AKOGUN GANI BALOGUN OSI OYO
- HON. AKEEM IGE BAMETO OYO
- BAR. KEHINDE OLUWOLE BAMOFIN EKITI
- RT. HON. FEMI BAMISILE BAARESETO EKITI
- OTUNBA KOLE OMOLOLU ODOFIN ONDO
- BAR. KAYODE AJULO MAYEGUN ONDO
- BAR. OGUNTIMEHIN ASOJU AARE LAGOS
- PROF. KOLAWOLE RAHEEM PARAKOYI LAGOS
- CHIEF EBUDOLA ODEDINA FIWAGBOYE LAGOS
- ALHAJA ADUNNI AFOLABI YEYE TUNWASE LAGOS
- CHIEF KAMORUDEEN LAMINA BOROKINNI OGUN
- MRS. YEWANDE GREEN YEYE SHEWA OGUN
- ALHAJA IYABOSOLA NINALOWO YEYELUWA OGUN
- ALHAJA ADIAT AYINKE ALAO IYALAJE
- CHIEF YAQUB ADESHINA AKOGUN KWARA
- Since news filtered that Aare Gani Adams was planning to inaugurate the Aare OnaKakanfo-in-Council, many wondered if there is a precedent; or whether the decision has any foundation in Yoruba history.
Adams, at the presentation of his book at Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Lagos, cleared the air.
He said: “On the chieftaincy titles to be given to 21 prominent Nigerians on Saturday, I have received many calls from eminent people, asking whether the installation has historical antecedent.
“I will use this opportunity to answer them.
“Since the office of the Aare OnaKakanfo was created 589 years ago, we have had 14 Aare OnaKakanfos.
“I was installed as the 15th Aare OnaKakanfo at Durbar Stadium, Oyo on January 13, 2018.
“Please, permit me to mention the names of my predecessors:
- Kokoro Gangan of Iwoye
- Oyatope of Iwoye
- Oyabi of Ajase
- Adeta of Jabata
- Oku of Jabata
- Afonja of Ilorin
- Toyeje of Ogbomoso
- Edun of Gbogun
- Amepo of Abemo
- Kurumi of Ijaye
- Ojo Aburumaku of Ogbomoso (son of Toyeje of Ogbomosho)
- Latoosa of Ibadan
- Ladoke Akintola of Ogbomoso (Premier of the Western Region in the First Republic)
- M.K.O. Abiola of Abeokuta (the only man in history to simultaneously hold the titles of Basorun of Ibadan and Aare OnaKakanfo of Yorubaland)
“The first 12 Aare OnaKakanfos had Aare-in-Council made up of prominent Yoruba sons and daughters from various towns, cities and villages.
“Given the fact that in those days, war exploits determined the success of the office of Aare OnaKakanfo, the title holder needed other war-tested veterans to gather intelligence across Yoruba border towns to ward off external aggression.
“So, the first assignment of any Aare OnaKakanfo, in those days, was to look for trusted Yoruba patriots and battle-tested men to ensure a successful reign.
“Prominent women leaders were also installed to join the Aare-in-Council.
“But, the last Aare-Ona-Kakanfo to install chiefs was Aare Latoosa.
“The 13th and 14th occupiers of the office, Samuel Ladoke Akintola and Basorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola, due to political exigencies of their time, could not constitute the Aare-in-Council.
“So, history will be made on Saturday as these prominent Nigerians will be installed.
“Since we are no longer in a war period, their roles will be simple and straight forward: Protection of the name and Projection of the image of Yorubaland in contemporary Nigeria, through the instrumentality of the office of the Aare OnaKakanfo.”
Below is the text of the speech that Iba Gani Adams, the Aare OnaKakanfo of Yorubaland, delivered during Wednesday’s book launch at Sheraton:
PROTOCOL
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with pleasure and profound humility that I welcome you to this epoch-making event organised by the Office of the Aare OnaKakanfo of Yorubaland and the Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
In partnership with the Lagos NUJ, two books will be launched today, namely ‘Iba Gani Adams: Aare OnaKakanfo of Yorubaland’ and ‘Voice of Media, Voice of People’.
Today’s event is important in the sense that the Lagos NUJ, as a partner in progress, has deemed it fit to ensure that Yorubaland is strategically placed on the global map of culture preservation and information dissemination.
It is also in furtherance of this altruism that the two books will be launched today.
I want to particularly thank the Lagos State Chairman of NUJ, Mr. Qasim Akinreti, for his efforts.
Of course, I didn’t expect anything less from an experienced journalist like him. Leading a body like Lagos NUJ is no mean task.
Lagos NUJ accounts for about 85 per cent of journalists operating in Nigeria. Given my interaction with the leadership, I am bold to say that Lagos NUJ is the most vibrant of all the chapels in the country.
So, any event organised by Lagos NUJ, in partnership with the office of Aare OnaKakanfo, must be an award-winning one.
I, therefore, give kudos to the Chairman and members of his team.
Ile Yoruba a gbe yin o, Amin.
As you know, the series of events marking the first anniversary of my installation as the 15th Aare OnaKakanfo by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, Iku Baba Yeye, starts this week.
Today is the book launch.
Tomorrow, the Aare OnaKakanfo football match will be played at the National Stadium,Surulere.
On Friday, there will be a book presentation.
On Saturday, 21 prominent Nigerians will be given chieftaincy titles. They will become members of Aare-in-Council.
On Sunday, there will be a grand reception/presentation of documentary on theoffice of the Aare OnaKakanfo.
So, you can see that it is going to be an eventful and historical week in the annals of Yorubaland, all aimed at projecting the culture and tradition of our forefathers, through the office of the Aare OnaKakanfo.
During the presentation of the documentary, many things you don’t know about the Aare OnaKakanfo will be revealed to you.
On the chieftaincy titles to be given to 21 prominent Nigerians on Saturday, I have received many calls from eminent people, asking whether the installation has historical antecedent.
I will use this opportunity to answer them.
Since the office of the Aare OnaKakanfo was created 589 years ago, we have had 14 Aare OnaKakanfos.
I was installed as the 15th Aare OnaKakanfo at Durbar Stadium, Oyo on January 13, 2018.
Please, permit me to mention the names of my predecessors:
- Kokoro Gangan of Iwoye
- Oyatope of Iwoye
- Oyabi of Ajase
- Adeta of Jabata
- Oku of Jabata
- Afonja of Ilorin
- Toyeje of Ogbomoso
- Edun of Gbogun
- Amepo of Abemo
- Kurumi of Ijaye
- Ojo Aburumaku of Ogbomoso (son of Toyeje of Ogbomosho)
- Latoosa of Ibadan
- Ladoke Akintola of Ogbomoso (Premier of the Western Region in the First Republic)
- M.K.O. Abiola of Abeokuta (the only man in history to simultaneously hold the titles of Basorun of Ibadan and Aare OnaKakanfo of Yorubaland)
The first 12 Aare OnaKakanfos had Aare-in-Council made up of prominent Yoruba sons and daughters from various towns, cities and villages.
Given the fact that in those days, war exploits determined the success of the office of Aare OnaKakanfo, the title holder needed other war-tested veterans to gather intelligence across Yoruba border towns to ward off external aggression.
So, the first assignment of any Aare OnaKakanfo, in those days, was to look for trusted Yoruba patriots and battle-tested men to ensure a successful reign.
Prominent women leaders were also installed to join the Aare-in-Council.
But, the last Aare-Ona-Kakanfo to install chiefs was Aare Latoosa.
The 13th and 14th occupiers of the office, Samuel Ladoke Akintola and Basorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola, due to political exigencies of their time, could not constitute the Aare-in-Council.
So, history will be made on Saturday as these prominent Nigerians will be installed.
Since we are no longer in a war period, their roles will be simple and straight forward: Protection of the name and Projection of the image of Yorubaland in contemporary Nigeria, through the instrumentality of the office of the Aare OnaKakanfo.
I invite you all to please join us on Saturday for the installation.
I cannot end this speech without touching on a topic that is dear to us in Yorubaland.
I said this before at various fora and I will still repeat it today that the only way out of the various crises Nigeria is facing is restructuring.
Whether it is done today, tomorrow or next year, restructuring is a must if Nigeria must move forward.
Many people, who are against restructuring, don’t even know what it means. To me, restructuring simply means reorganisation, not disintegration.
When we insist on restructuring, we are not after the balkanisation, disintegration or collapse of the country. What we are simply saying is that we need to reorganise this country.
All over the world, development is always through Bottom-Up approach, not the other way round.
Simply put, development can only come from ward to council, to state and then federal.
What the federal must do is to ensure effective compliance with laid down rules. It is not possible to sit in Abuja and control what happens in the remotest part of Zamfara, Osun, Enugu or Rivers states.
There is no need postponing this because the present system just won’t work. The earlier restructuring is done, the better for all Nigerians.
I pray that God will give our leaders the will to do the right thing.
I want to thank members of the Organising Committee of the first installation anniversary of the 15th Aare OnaKakanfo for their tireless efforts in ensuring that this event becomes a reality.
I also want to thank you, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, for honouring our invitation.
As the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo, Igba mi a tu ile Yoruba lara lágbara Olodumare, Amin.
Thank you.
Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams
15th Aare OnaKakanfo of Yorubaland.
