The 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has placed a curse on enemies of Yoruba unity, praying to Yoruba ancestors to unleash their wrath on those he described as enemies of unity among the race.
While performing traditional rites preparatory to his formal installation in Oyo, on Saturday, Adams, in a charged voice, prayed that “whoever works towards permanent division among the Yoruba people of Nigeria would not live long,” saying that the unity of Yoruba nation, more than any other thing, was his immediate assignment, which he promised to pursue with vigour and all within his capability as the new generalissimo.
The installation, which was carried out amidst pomp and circumstance, made the historical town to literally stand still as thousands of Yoruba sons and daughters within the country and in the Diaspora converged on the Durbar Stadium, venue of the epic ceremony.
The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III and Adams entered the venue in horse-driven chariot around 12.40 p.m.
The occasion had the trappings of cultural festivals as various groups used the event to showcase the rich culture, tradition and customs of the Yoruba ethnic nationality to the admirations of hordes of foreign tourists that flew in to be part of the day.
Indeed, it turned out to be an opportunity for unification among all the shades of division in Yoruba land, with Adams leading the renaissance of oneness.
Speaking at the event, which was attended by the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; representatives of other South-West governors; royal fathers such as the Olubadan of Ibadan; Timi of Ede; Onjo of Okeho and representatives of the Oba of Lagos, among others, the Alaafin of Oyo, who performed the final rite on the newly-installed Aare Ona Kakanfo charged him to pursue unity and progress of the Yoruba race around the world.
Other eminent dignitaries who graced the occasion included Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo; the chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu; former governors of Oyo, Ondo and Delta states, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and Mr Emmanuel Uduaghan; Mr Yinka Odumakin and Senator Monsurat Sunmonu.
Also speaking, the chairman of the central committee in charge of the event, Most Reverend Ayo Ladigbolu, called on the new Aare to step up “peace-making, bridge-building and reconciliation and ensure that fanning the embers of unity and accord should be the major parts of the mandate of the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland.”
He said: “the modern Kakanfo does not need bows and arrows, guns and daggers, but he requires courage, boldness, bravery, focus, application of native intelligence to international issues, and the brilliance and adaptability to respond to the myriads of challenges facing our nation and world today. He requires the agility of youth and the stamina of a long distance runner, as well as the wisdom of Solomon to be all things to all people both in season and out of season.”
An elated Adams promised to use his new status to unite the people and place the ethnic group on a new pedestal, with his message resonating among other eminent persons, who addressed the unprecedented audience as they unanimously declared that the event marked the beginning a new dawn in Yoruba land.
“As the 15th Aare Ona Kakanafo, I consider myself lucky that there is no war at hand confronting the Yoruba race now. In other words, we are living in peace time. However, I am not pleased with the level of Yoruba unity today and I am very concerned.
“Therefore, my greatest priority is the unity of the Yoruba race at home and in the Diaspora. I will, therefore, spare no effort in ensuring the unity of Yoruba race within the contemporary Nigeria body polity,” he said.
He said his primary mission was to serve conscientiously, promising to liaise with seven non-partisan Yoruba elders to unite all Yoruba.
“I offer myself for service once it is for the advancement of the Yoruba race. The various groups in the South-West should also resolve their crises.
“I will also persuade seven of our elders, who are non-partisan, to work with me in uniting all Yoruba and resolve differences wherever they may arise,” he stated.
He called on President Muhammed Buhari to, as a priority, tackle the insecurity, power and other critical challenges currently besetting the nation.
“My second appeal as the Aare Ona Kakanfo goes to the Federal Government to attend to some of the major roads in Yorubaland that are critical to its citizens. These include Lagos-Ibadan, Oyo-Ilorin, Lagos-Badagry, Sagamu-Benin, Badagry-Lusada-Sokoto, Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo, Osogbo-Ilesa, Ilesa-Akure-Owo-Lokoja and Lagos-Abeokuta.
“It will also be a major plus if the government, as promised by President Muhammadu Buhari in his January 1, 2018 speech, attends to rail transportation as fast as possible.
“The issue of power is also critical. This will empower artisans more. Security is equally important. All these would aid the development of the tourism potential of the country.
“Several countries, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Britain, Turkey, Singapore, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Ghana, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia and Israel have diversified their economies to tourism.
“I want to assure you that I will work with various stakeholders to turn our land into a viable tourist destination. To our esteemed Governors in the South-West, I call for cooperation, no matter the party line. The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission should be empowered. And I want you all to see me as a partner in progress,” the Aare said.
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