Religious tolerance key to progress of Yorubaland — Gani Adams

•says OPC most crucified organization in Nigeria

Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, on Tuesday, urged all believers of the three prominent religions to tolerate one another, saying religious tolerance was key to the progress of Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole.

Iba Adams made the call while speaking at the 2025 edition of the Thanksgiving Programme organized by the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), which took place at Oodua House, Ikeja, Lagos, restating the need for religious tolerance.

The Yoruba generalissimo, who noted that OPC had been able to sustain itself without receiving any grant or funds from any institution, said the reason for the Thanksgiving Programme was to appreciate God for the gift of life, and protection and for keeping the hope of the socio-cultural organization alive.

Besides, he said the thanksgiving service was to hand over all the 42 programmes of the organization for the year to God, who he described as the greatest sustainer of the OPC.

This was just as he sadly recalled the year 2024 was a terrible year when about 35 children died in Ibadan, while 50 also died in Anambra and in Abuja, adding that members of the group survived “all the tragedies of last year” and, therefore the need “to hand over all our 42 programmes to God for us to succeed.”

“The year 2024 was a terrible year where about 35 children died in Ibadan, 50 also died in Anambra and in Abuja. But we survived all the tragedies of last year. But we want to hand over all our 42 programmes to God for us to succeed.

“OPC is the most crucified organization in Nigeria, however,we are able to sustain the organization because of our beliefs in a just cause.

“Religion is very sensitive, therefore, I am appealing to all believers of the three prominent religions, the Muslims, Christians and the traditional believers to tolerate one another and embrace peace as that is key to the progress of Yoruba land and Nigeria as a whole.

“OPC is a Yoruba socio-cultural organization that preaches religious tolerance. As the leader of the organization and several others both in Nigeria and in the diaspora, I will be the last person to undermine any of the religions. I will be the last person that will denigrate Yoruba culture and tradition because I also believe strongly that religious tolerance and liberalism is the best that can help us out in Yoruba land,” Adams said.

The Yoruba generalissimo, while assuring residents across Yoruba land of their adequate safety, said it was very unfortunate that some religious fanatics were determined to cause security threats in Yoruba land.

He said the reports of the influx of ISWAP in Yoruba land was very disturbing, noting that terrorists and bandits cannot come to Yoruba land without the knowledge of some Islamic fundamentalists.

In their different sermons, the Islamic cleric, Alhaji Abdul Lateef Ishola, who is the Chief Imam of Ogo Oluwa Mosque, Ajasa command, Lagos, preached the gospel of peace and unity.

Meanwhile, Prophet Peter Oyewole from the C and S Agbojesu Ijedodo emphasized the need for prayers and thanksgiving, saying no progress could be made in life without prayer and thanksgiving.

Also in his sermon, Chief Ifashola Adeoti from Alagbado, said the thanksgiving service would usher in various development and progress to the OPC.

The thanksgiving service was attended by prominent dignitaries from Nigeria and abroad, including members of the Aareonakakanfo- Chiefs- in Council, the OPC National Executive Council (NEC ) and the National Coordinating Council (NCC), among others.

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