Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, on Wednesday, said the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) is a blessing to Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole, as he highlighted the various successes of the foremost Yoruba socio-cultural organisation.
Iba Adams said this on Wednesday while speaking in Lagos at the Leaders and Stakeholders Ceremony, which is the grand finale of the week-long activities for the 30th Anniversary of OPC, noting that in the area of security, it was the advent of the organisation in 1994 that brought about the peace across Yorubaland.
The Yoruba generalissimo maintained that, in the area of security, the fear of OPC had since remained the beginning of wisdom in Nigeria, stating further that the cultural promotion across Yoruba land was the best thing that had happened to the Yoruba race.
“Today’s event marks the end of a 9-day programme of the 30th Anniversary of OPC.
“I stand before you today as a living testimony of the various successes of the OPC both in Yoruba land and Nigeria as a whole.
“OPC is a blessing to Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole. I became what I am today through the OPC.
“It is the OPC that started the cultural promotion activities across Yorubaland. This is made possible through the Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF).
“Today OPC celebrates more than 26 festivals across Yoruba land and even beyond. OPC engages in both community and humanitarian services. It is the OPC that gave birth to the foremost Yoruba diaspora organisation, the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) in 2011, and today, OPU is presently in 100 countries across the six continents of the world,” Adams stated.
“On religion, OPC is moderate and liberal on religious matters. Our members practice the three religions,” he added.
Iba Adams, however, charged members to remain faithful to the cause of the organisation, insisting that OPC would continue to advance the cause of the Yoruba race and play a pivotal role in developing Yoruba land and Nigeria.
The royal host, Alaige of Orile Agege, Oba Ambaliu Agbedeyi, in his remarks, praised Iba Adams for his efforts at sustaining the core values of the organisation, saying that OPC had helped the traditional institution in many ways.
Also speaking, the Oniladaba of Ladaba Kingdom, Oba Nureni Ebudola Odedina Alugbin, who is also a chieftain of the OPC, said he was happy to be part of the success story of the OPC, saying that it was a great opportunity for him to be part of the day’s celebration.
“I am very happy that I am here today. I am a beneficiary of the OPC, and I think it is a great opportunity for me to be here today,” the monarch said.
Two of the founding members of the OPC, Basorun Adekunle Adesokan and Chief Mrs Idowu Adebowale, who were present at the event, eulogised IbaAdams for his spirited efforts at keeping the organisation together after the trying period.
They expressed joy that the baby they co-founded with Iba Adams 30 years ago “is now a grown-up child and standing tall above all challenges to become the pride of the Yoruba race today.”
Awards and Certificates of Honour were presented to all members of the National Executive Council (NEC), members of the OPC, and the members of the National Coordinating Council (NCC).
Other royal fathers present at the event include the Onirokun of the Irokun Kingdom, Oba Buari Ola-Balogun, and Agbegishe of Agbegishe Land, Oba Joseph Ikudaisi, among others.
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