OPC now has a new look with global applause ― Gani Adams

AARE Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Aare Gani Adams, has said that Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) of today is different from when it was formed in the 90s, pointing out that OPC, which now comprised of scholars, lawyers, doctors and other professionals from all walks of life is gradually gaining global applause.

Adams, who is also the national coordinator of the group, stated this at the weekly National Coordinating Council (NCC) meeting of members, which took place at Eti Osa East Local Council Development Area (LCDA) secretariat, Sangotedo, Lagos.

The event, which had in attendance, traditional rulers, including Zaki of Arigidi Akoko, Oba Yisa Olanipekun; Aladesanyin of Odo Noforija Epe, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja (JP); Oba Gbadamosi Taiwo, among others, was organised as part of the strategies to sensitise the public about the activities of the group.

According to Aare Adams, OPC has now spread to over 84 countries across the globe with the inception of Oodua Progressive Union (OPU), saying that the group under his leadership had, within two decades, passed through a transition period.

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“By next year, OPC will be 25. We shall be celebrating its silver jubilee. It was the grace of God, and the spirit of our ancestor, Oduduwa and other deities that have been sustaining us through tough times.

“Today we have turned things around. We have injected cultural promotion and festivals into our programmes, moving from one state to another and extending our frontiers across the country and beyond. We have scholars, lawyers, doctors and other professionals from all walks of life in OPC and others are joining the group,” he said.

Speaking further, the OPC national coordinator said people who still thought the group was meant for vagabonds were living in the past and, therefore, should be pitied, declaring that OPC was a success story.

“l pity those who are still ignorant of the progress we have made so far. I pity those who say OPC is for the vagabonds. They are living in the past. Our story is a success story and the group is now transiting from glory to glory,” he said.

Chairman, Eti Osa East LCDA, Hon. Olufunmi Eshinlokun, in his remark, thanked the Aare Onakakanfo for counting the council worthy of hosting the weekly programme, stressing that the platform offered great opportunities for him to meet with the Generalissimo for the first time and to throw support for OPC for it to continue to protect the interest of the race.

“I am highly honoured to be part of this programme. It is a great opportunity for us to be present at this event, and I know many people would have benefited from this programme, especially, those that didn’t know much about OPC. With the new initiative, I think we all have a duty to support the group so that they can continue to protect the interest of the race,” he said.

Chairman of the event, Prince Kolawole Onakoya, expressed delight at the organisation’s strategy of the group, describing OPC as the most vibrant organisation in the South- West, charging members to sustain the ideals of the group.

Meanwhile, coordinator of the group in Eti Osa, Chief Ebudola Odedina, who was also the host coordinator of the programme, said the success of the entire group can be attributed to the courage of Aare Gani Adams, who, in spite of the difficult circumstances, stood up to sustain the ideals of the group.

He also praised the efforts of all the members for keeping the flag flying, saying the intention of the NCC weekly meeting was to continually propagate the interest of the group so that the public would know more and understand the group.

“Today’s event is part of the weekly NCC meeting and the intention is to continually propagate the interest of the group so that the public can know more about us and understand our group.

“As far as we are concerned, our group has been transformed in such a way that makes it one of the leading group, with branches across the country and the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) in 84 countries globally,” he explained.