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2023 Elections: Gani Adams tackles FG, says regional government a panacea

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3 years ago

February 7, 2022

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The Generalisimo of Yoruba land Iba Gani Adams, has tasked the federal government on the need to revert to regional system government, ahead of 2023 general elections.

He said that attempts to whittle the strength of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Chief Sunday Adeyemo Igboho the Yoruba Nation crooner on agitations in favour of cessation will not succeed without having in place a regional government.

Iba Gani Adams made the declaration during the10th anniversary celebration of OPU.

He notes that the unitary system we have is place is clearly choking other Federation units, due to too much concentration of powers at the Federal level.

Fielding questions from newsmen at the forum, the 15th Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land who doubles as the Global Convener OPU opined that 100 percent power concentrated at the federal level of government is inimical for the other federation units to thrive.

They should be allowed room to fester, reverting back to the people’s constitution of 1963, will cure a lot of our problems.

“If we can run with many provisions of that constitution it will help a lot.

“It is very glaring that without regionalism there is no way Nigeria can move forward, we are just wasting our time.”

Commenting on the call for State Policing, Iba Gani Adams notes that it is smallest amongst the recommendations on security.

“We are talking about having Federal, regional, state and local government police. You see some northerners and even southerners saying they don’t want state police and people are being killed and maimed every day.

“Properties are being destroyed, secret cults gaining grounds and our children are being used for rituals.

“ The political class did not think that what happens to this people can happen to them in future. So we have to put all the mechanisms in place to restore sanity.

“If they don’t do that, you can’t stop anybody calling for cessation, if you give no room for restructuring and regionalism don’t stop Kanu,Igboho, from agitating for cessation. “ Said Iba Gani Adams.

Iba Gani Adams however, disclosed that the organisation has done a lot to leverage on the economic gains of Yoruba descendants in the diaspora and reunite many with their root, thus preserving Yoruba cultural values.

He made mention of the fact that OPU members embarked on building project of 330 housing units in the past five years.

According to him the socio political group targets an avenue to dissuade many in the diaspora off the much talked about insecurity all around, which is the bane of capital investment that could have been done.

“We encourage them to come and build in Nigeria so that their minds can focus on developing the homeland.

“We attempt dissuading their minds about the fear of insecurity.

“ We are not here to do any propaganda for any government but we want to encourage our people no matter where they are there is no place like home.

“We have been encouraging our people in the diaspora to do much of intellectual discourse around our cultural heritage.

“ It is a platform to encourage others to do what we are doing, you can imagine how much they have injected into our economy since the day they got here, many will still spend more during the course of the programme.

“We defend the interest of our members against swindlers and dubious transactions. We refer such case some to EFCC and those we can use our influence to retrieve the money, we do.

“It is an added advantage for having a platform to defend ourselves in Yoruba land.”

The OPU 10th anniversary planning committee Chairman, Akinrogun of Arigidi Akoko,Chief Victor Adewale said that the gathering is targeted at reinventing the will of many in diaspora, to help reconnect with their cultural values in a unique and beneficial manner.

The book launch to commemorate our 10th year anniversary is an attempt to preserve the organisation’s history, it is titled “OPU Globalizing Yoruba Value and Culture”.

Adewale eulogize the global Convener OPU the 15th Aare Onakakanfo for his doggedness and steadfast love for the organisation.

He maintained that the ten years anniversary targets getting members to be more committed across the globe.

“ What matters most is for us to look beyond today and commit ourselves to the future.

“ We embarked on various empowerment programmes for the widows and less privileged people across the Southwest, in commemoration of our tenth anniversary, we also presented a brand new vehicle to Oba Joseph Moronfoye JP, Onigbaye of Igbaye land.

Chief Funmi Olumade Iyameto of Canada, committee’s Secretary charged Yoruba women in the diaspora and across the globe to help in preserving the rich cultural values and teaching their wards the Yoruba language.

“OPU breeds unity amongst Yoruba descendants in diaspora, it makes one feel the urge to come home.

“Aside getting involved in the cultural thing, you can see all of us cladded in white attires with other blends of colour, which makes the gathering resplendent.

“Be you in North America or any of the continents of the world they ask you where are you from? So OPU avails us that opportunity, it is ten years now and we are still waxing strong.

“So we are showcasing our culture and we are hungry in coming back home to invest and also promote our own culture.

“I am an event planner, with much root in our cultural values well promoted in the diaspora, I encourage yoruba games like ayo olopon and many more just to preserve our values even in Canada.

“I want to encourage our mothers in the diaspora and even here to impact in their children our cultural values, let them learn our language, in Canada we have Yoruba language class facilitated by OPU members free of charge .

“It is voluntary, children and adults who like to learn the language get it easily.” Said Chief Olumade.

Some of the eminent personalities at the event includes; His Royal Majesty Oba Idowu Akindele, Akingbade 1 the Alakute of Akute land. Gbonka Aare, High Chief Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo the book reviewer. Gani Kayode Balogun, Professor Kolawole Raheem from University of Ghana.

Others are Oba of Shasha land Oba Babatunde Akanbi, Ogunronbi Akinlowo 1, High Chief Rasheed Kuku, Baale Isale Oja, Agbaosi Seidu Eweobaja 1, Alaguda, Bameto Aare, Akeem Ademola Ige, Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

OPU also gave awards to deserving personalities who have done a lot to promote the entrenchment of Yoruba cultural values in Nigeria and the diaspora.

These includes, Prince Lanre Sunmonu, Chief Mrs. Toyin Olushile, Aare Adetola Emmanuel King CEO Adron Homes and Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, NURTW Chairman Lagos.