AareOnakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, speaking at the palace of the Olu of Warri kingdom during a courtesy visit to Warri on Monday
On Monday, Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, called for a concerted unity of purpose between Yoruba and Itsekiri, just as he prayed the enemies of Itsekiri would perish.
He made the plea at the palace of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, during a courtesy visit to the Warri kingdom in the Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Adams, who arrived at the palace of the Olu at noon with his entourage, urged the Itsekiri not to be shy of their ancestry, adding that they should not downplay the ancestral affinity between Yoruba and Itsekiri.
He spoke glowingly about the intelligence and panache of the youthful Olu, declaring him God’s gift to the Itsekiri nation.
“God Almighty gave Itsekiri a gifted king. He is an orator of the highest order, so intelligent that his profile is highly intimidating.
“He’s a king who classes himself. He’s highly resourceful, and he has his people and the entire kingdom in his heart.
“We see Itsekiri as one of the sons of Oodua. Your MC has been trying to play down the Yorubaness of Itsekiri.
“You need us; we need you. You can’t toy with about 250 million people across the globe. One of the most intelligent black nations in the world.
“I love the way you cherish your identity and culture. We need ourselves. God will bless the Itsekiri people. All your enemies still perish,” he prayed.
According to him, “We need ourselves. Yoruba cannot do without Itsekiri, and Itsekiri cannot do without Yoruba.”
While praying against the enemies of Itsekiri, the Yoruba Generalissimo assured Itsekiri of the full support of the Yoruba all the way.
“All the enemies of Itsekiri will perish. I assure you, Yoruba land is with you. Aare Onakakanfo is with you today. Let the whole world know that we’re ready to stand with the Itsekiri people.
“We have the foundation and the antecedents. Chief Obafemi Awolowo stood with Itsekiri. The late Alfred Rewane was with Chief MKO Abiola till the end.
“Nobody can drive you out of your property. You must unite. You have a king who will do that for you. Use his influence to network with people to come and assist you.
The Yoruba warlord, in Yoruba, who described the stool of the Olu of Warri as so significant that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had to prostrate before it, prayed for the Itsekiri nation
“The Olu stool is very important. Obasanjo, one of our great sons of Africa, prostrated before the throne. For Obasanjo, a former president and pan-Africanist, to have done that, he’s a proud person. So to prostrate to the throne means something.
“So I began to ask questions. I realised that 28 per cent of oil wells in Nigeria are in the Warri Kingdom. Warri is a blessed city. God bless you more.
“You’ve invoked your ancestors to this place through your cultural display. I know all the spirits of Itsekiri will stand by you. Traditionally, I have the right to defend Oodua descendants anywhere they are in the world.
“When you respect your king, everything will work for you. Your ancestors will fight for Itsekiri. There’ll be no war in Itsekiri Land.
“Your ancestors will swallow up all your enemies,” the Akoko-born leader of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC)” prayed.
Meanwhile, responding to the remarks of Iba Adams, the mouthpiece of the Olu of Warri, Chief Brown Mene, acknowledged the largely Yoruba ancestry of the Itsekiri, adding that the two ethnic nationalities are inseparable and have a lot to gain from each other.
“Itsekiri language is Yorubanoid. We know who we are. You cannot speak of Itsekiri without Yoruba. We’re part and parcel together.
“We shall not sink. We shall swim together. The calabash can never go under. From this visit, it shows we’re from the same heritage. Your coming is for a reason. God will fulfil it,” Chief Mene prayed.
The courtesy visit of the AareOnakakanfo coincided with the Aghofen watch at the palace for three months by the Okere Itsekiri community, which will end on March 16.
The occasion, therefore, witnessed intermittent interludes of cultural performances by troupes from the Okere Itsekiri and Yoruba settlers in the Warri kingdom.
On the entourage of the AareOnakakanfo were Chief Gani Balogun, the Osi AareOnakakanfo of Yoruba land, Professor Kolawole Raheem, Parakoyi AareOnakakanfo of Yoruba land, Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige, Bameeto AareOnakakanfo of Yoruba land, Chief Dauda Asikolaye, Bareejiro AareOnakakanfo of Yoruba land, and the Delta State Coordinator of OPC, Chief Olawale Akeem, among others.
At the palace with the Olu of Warri to welcome AareOnakakanfo and his entourage were the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Awala, Chief Dr Rowland Oritsekafor, Chief Francis Omatseye, Chief Brown Mene, Chief Dr Ikomi, and Chief Mrs Esther Okotiebor, among others.
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