As the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), led by the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, prepares to celebrate its 30th Anniversary, all six South West governors, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, and other dignitaries from within and outside the country are expected to attend the 9-day programme scheduled to take place in Lagos.
It is worth recalling that the socio-cultural organization, formed on Monday, August 29, 1994, has since evolved into a global phenomenon.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee for the OPC 30th Anniversary, Prof. Kolawole Raheem, who is also the Parakoyi Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, made this announcement during a press conference in Ikeja. He stated that the celebration, which will begin on Friday, August 23, 2024, with a Thanksgiving Programme, has many stories of the group’s successes to share with the world.
Prof. Raheem, who heads a 30-member committee responsible for overseeing the planning and execution of all the anniversary programmes, revealed that the Chairman of the Day is former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, while the Guest Lecturer is Prof. Olufemi Otubanjo, a Senior Researcher at the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos.
He also noted that the Chief Host of the event is Iba Gani Adams, while the book reviewer is Prof. Siyan Oyeweso, who currently serves as the Chairman of the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
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Raheem assured that the week-long event, which will feature visits to special places like the Old People’s Home on Saturday, August 24, 2024, and a visit to the Pacelli School for the Blind & Deaf the following day, will also include the official commissioning of the N1 billion Legacy Project, tagged “The Oodua House,” and the Heroes’ Day celebration, among other activities. These events, he said, would open the door for the world to see how the OPC has fared over the last three decades.
“On Thursday, August 29, the D-day for the grand finale, there will be a lecture and the public presentation of a book documenting the history of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) as one of Nigeria’s foremost organizations.
“The book, titled Oodua People’s Congress at 30: The Journey So Far, is a historic document chronicling the OPC’s trajectory over the past 30 years. This detailed analysis of the OPC’s struggle will be officially presented to the public on the grand finale day.
“Gentlemen of the press, a grand reception will be held on Thursday, August 29, where prominent Nigerians from all walks of life will be invited to celebrate with us in style.
“On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, we will conclude the OPC 30th Anniversary with the Leadership and Grassroots Day,” Raheem stated.
He added, “Gentlemen of the press, I want to assure you that the committee, under my leadership as Chairman of the Planning Committee, has fully prepared for the series of activities scheduled for the anniversary.”
Explaining the decision to choose former Governor Daniel as Chairman of the Day, Prof. Raheem said the choice was based on the significant and fatherly role Daniel played during the factional crises that engulfed the OPC in 2005.
According to him, Otunba Daniel stood by the organization and provided the necessary reconciliation between the two factions led by the late Dr. Fredrick Faseun and Iba Gani Adams. As governor at the time, Daniel intervened and saved Yorubaland from further crises that could have engulfed the entire South West region.
“The Chairman of the Day is His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and former Executive Governor of Ogun State.
“His selection was based on the vital and fatherly role he played during the 2005 OPC factional crises, where he supported the organization and facilitated reconciliation between the two factions led by Dr. Fredrick Faseun and Iba Gani Adams.
“As governor, he intervened and saved Yorubaland from further crises that could have affected the entire South West region,” Raheem said.
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