The new Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams Tuesday, said he would use his new position to promote the Yoruba culture and fight the cause of the Yoruba race.

While speaking with newsmen, he described himself as a fighter, Adams, who is the National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), added that he would reach out to a former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who had earlier congratulated him, and other Yoruba leaders.

Excerpts:

• “I am not as wealthy as the last Aare Ona Kakanfo – Chief M. K. O. Abiola – but the structure I have today with six million followers is something that cannot be wished away.
• “I am going to be a bridge-builder and promote the unity of the Yoruba race. I will reach out to people who will help to move the Yoruba race. I am going to reach out to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other Yoruba leaders,” Adams said.

Other highlights:

• He said contrary to popular belief, the title was not a death knell for anybody chosen as the Aare Ona Kakanfo.
• “Most men given the title were war generals. The myth that all the Aare Ona Kakanfo ended in tragedy is not true. We shouldn’t allow such a myth to cast a shadow on the good office of the Aare Ona Kakanfo.
• “I am a fighter. You must understand that death is a product of God. I have been fighting for many years and will work to promote the Yoruba agenda,” he added.
• “I am 47 years old. Chiefs Ladoke Akintola and M. K. O. Abiola were in their 40s when they were honoured. I am not too young to be the new Aare Ona Kakanfo.
• “Generals Yakubu Gowon and Olusegun Obasanjo were younger when they assumed positions of leadership; Gowon was in his 30s and Obasanjo was in his 40s,” the Aare Ona Kakanfo said.
• Adams added, “My new position will moderate my radicalism, but it will not make me compromise my principles. Let me also mention that the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi was always referring to me as generalissimo; I never paid much attention to that.
• “I never lobbied to become the Aare Ona Kakanfo. When people felt I should be the next one, I had to consult widely; both intellectually and spiritually.
• “I eventually wrote to the Alaafin of Oyo to indicate my interest in the position. The rest today is history.”

Omoleye Omoruyi

Omoleye Omoruyi… an apprentice web/game developer, novelist, sensitive to happenings in the world. Meet him @Lord_rickie on Twitter/Instagram