At Okota Festival 2018: Gani Adams canvass for cultural revolution

Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams, has called on all Yoruba indigenes in Nigeria and in the Diaspora to embrace a new cultural ideology, saying a new approach is needed to make Nigeria a great nation.

He said the Yoruba race has the potentials to be the leading race in the world.

Speaking at the weekend, during the 2018 edition of Okota Festival in Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State, Adam, also urged Nigeria to take a cue from the developed countries of the world, citing Russia as a good example of countries on a global map in sports and tourism. He said he was determined to use his new position to chart a new path for the development of the race.

Adams, however, charged Nigeria’s leaders to promote eco-tourism as a way of promoting the cultural identity of the nation.

“Long before I became the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, I have been calling for a new  strategy to developing our culture and tourism, therefore, wherever I travel  to in the world, I always make it a point of duty to call for a better strategy for promoting our culture and tourism”, he said.

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Aare Adams, noted also that Nigeria should leverage on its huge population in all sectors including sports, entertainment and science to drive the nation’s development.

Meanwhile, the guest lecturer, Professor Olu Aboluwoye of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Ondo State, in his remarks, explained the uniqueness of the Yoruba culture, tradition and identity.H e said the Yoruba culture is rich in all ramifications, adding that the culture is unique and does not, in any way, oppose to either Christianity or Islamic religion. The university don, however, urged the guests to appreciate the culture and tradition of the race.” Culture is the sum total of the beliefs and actions of everyone in a given society. Culture is not monolithic, however, science and religions have, in recent times, been influencing us greatly.”

The Royal Father of the event and host, the Zaki of Arigidi, Oba Yisa Olanipekun eulogised the effort of Aare Gani Adams for promoting Yoruba culture and tradition across the country and beyond.

The monarch prayed for all the sons and daughters of the town, saying the annual event of Okota festival has impacted greatly the development of Arigidi.

He urged indigenes of the town to accommodate all members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) for their roles in the promotion of the annual event.

Dignitaries present at the event include the Arigidi monarch, and his Queen, Olori Esther Olanipekun, Olubaka of Oka-Akoko, Oba Yusuf Adebori, Owa of Ogbagi Akoko, Oba Adetona Victor, Arigbamu of Agbamu, Oba Olusola Dare and the queen, Olu of Opewu, Okiti Pupa, Oba Oyewole Oluwasegun, Olugedegede of Igedegede, Oba Walidu Sanni, Oba Olusegun Atibioke, Olubaramu of Ibaramu, Oba Timothy Ipinmoroti, Oluro of Uro Ajowa.

Others were Honorable Sulaimon Maito, member Ondo State House of Assembly, chief Femi Davies and the Area Commander, Ikare Akoko,Mr.Rauf Rasaq, Arigidi Akoko Divisional Police Officer (DPO, and his counterparts from Oke Agbe.

Members of the Arigidi Akoko Council of chiefs, the National Executive Council of the OPC, National Coordinating Council and other prominent groups and associations in the town.

Earlier before the event, the 2018 Miss Okota Beauty Pageant was held at the town hall with many dignitaries in attendance.

The pageant which produced Miss Isa Dasola Abiodun, 24 year-old student of The Polytechnic Ibadan as winner.

The first-runner is Lawal Ololade Anuoluwapo, a student of National Open University of Nigeria Abeokuta while Njoku Maria-Silva Chika, also a student of National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos emerged as the second-runner up.