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Tag: Oodua People’s Congress

  • Gani Adams advocates use of local languages

    Gani Adams advocates use of local languages

    The National Coordinator, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and Olokun Festival Foundation, Otunba Gani Adams, has said investment in the education of children and usage of mother tongue is the panacea to quick development of the nation.

    According to him, Nigeria started to retrogress when its languages got relegated to the background, with the favourable use of the white man’s language to the detriment of indigenous ones, being the cause of the underdevelopment of Africa.

    He said this at the finale of the Olokun festival quiz competition where secondary schools were quizzed on their mastery of the Yoruba language in Lagos.

    He said children are the future of any country and adequate investment in their education and well being using their mother tongue assured progress for the country.

    He said: “Any country that wants to be technologically developed must use her language in developing the codes for the technology,which is why the Western world are more advanced”.

    Adams, who is the Chief Promoter of Olokun Festival, said  the foundation decided to hold the quiz competition because of the importance it attached to  language as a vehicle for cultural re-birth.

    He said one of the achievements of the organisation is the usage of the Yoruba language for plenary sessions among some state’s houses of assemblies in the south west.

    “The competition would give the students opportunity to know more about the Yoruba language and to also develop themselves intellectually as it builds their confidence which is helpful in going to future competitions “,he asserted.

    Some of the schools that took part in the competition were: Ilupeju Senior Grammar School, Opebi Senior High School, Community High School, Wasinmi, Omole Senior High School, Oregun Senior High School, Army Children School and Ilupeju Senior Secondary School all in Lagos State.

  • Aare Ona Kakanfo: Tinubu congratulates Gani Adams, Alaafin

    Aare Ona Kakanfo: Tinubu congratulates Gani Adams, Alaafin

    Sen. Bola Tinubu on Tuesday congratulated the leader of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, on his appointment as the next Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland.

    Tinubu, a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the congratulatory message issued in Lagos said that Adams richly deserved the appointment

    He said Adams had never left anyone in doubt over his resolve to fight for the interest of Yoruba race.

    “I congratulate you on your appointment as the next Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland With this, you have joined the elite rank of generalissimos in Yorubaland.

    “ You deserve this honour. You have a heart of steel. You have never left anyone in doubt about your resolve and readiness to fight for and defend the interest of Yoruba race.

    “In Yorubaland, particularly in the old Oyo Empire, the position of Aare Ona Kakanfo has always been a significant one.

    Tinubu said that as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo and going through the list of those who had occupied the position, Adams “come with an extra youth, vigour and vitality, which would be an added advantage’’.

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    “ I rejoice with you and wish you well as you assume this leadership mantle and forge ahead in the service of our people,’’ he said.

    Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos also commended the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi for the appointment of Adams as the Aare Ona Kakanfo.

    “I congratulate you Kabiyesi, Iku Baba Yeye, over the appointment of Otunba Gani Adams as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland

    “You have accomplished another important task. You have broken the 19 years hiatus in picking another nominee for this prestigious title.

    “Otunba Gani Adams’ appointment comes after the demise of the last occupant of the office, Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12 election, who died in incarceration in 1998.

    “I commend you Kabiyesi for the thorough search which produced the Oodua People’s Congress Leader as the next occupant.

    “While wishing you renewed strength, good health and continued successful reign, I also wish the new Aare Ona kakanfo a glorious tenure,’’ he said.

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, confirmed the choice of Adams for the title on Sunday during his 79th birthday celebration.

    Aare Ona Kakanfo in the pre-colonial Yoruba history was a supreme military title conferred by the Alaafin of Oyo. (NAN)

  • Royal fathers urged to sustain cultural heritage

    The National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams has advised African traditional rulers to intensify the propagation of the rich cultural heritage, values and traditions of the black race.

    Adams said for Africa to succeed and maintain its rightful position in the world, premium must be placed on her distinct values, customs and traditions that distinguished them from other races in the world.

    He gave the advice at the Ataoja’s Palace in Osogbo while receiving traditional chieftaincy title of Agba Akin of Osogbo land from the traditional ruler, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun.

    ýAdams, who described Africans as the most blessed race in the world, said unless efforts are made towards harnessing the continent’s socio-economic and cultural endowments, her position would be difficult to identify and reckon with.

    ýThe OPC National Coordinator, who called on traditional rulers and other custodians of African cultures and traditions to defend the continent’s God-given potential, said no effort must be spared at raising the bar of African traditional endowments for the betterment of all.ý

    ýHe bemoaned the manner at which some people desecrate traditional institutions, noting that “unless we value our endowments and give them priority attention, it would not be valued by others”.ý

    ýThe Agba Akin of Osogbo land said it behoves on every black man to regard his culture and tradition as sacred that shouldn’t be allowed to be either desecrated or fade away by worldly frivolities. ý

    He said: “It is disheartening that our culture, tradition and values are gradually going into extinction. This has not only posed a threat to our national and international lives but also defaced our identity as a black race.   ý

    ý”We must begin to do the necessary things to reposition our continent as the richest race with the most valued ýcultures and traditions in the world.

    “Our people, particularly the traditional rulers, must see the need to revamp the decadence in the system and place us above other races as regards socio-cultural heritage and values.

    “Africans are known for distinct values and virtues, thus we must all maintain the standard by being conscious of what define us as a people with valued culture, heritage and traditions. ý

    ý”All hands must be on deck to rejuvenate, develop and promote anything that will further enrich us in our collective values as a people and continent.

    “So, for no reason should Africans, particularly the Yoruba, mortgage their culture, tradition and heritage.”ý

    ýAdams, who described the ancient town of Osogbo as one of the most oriented communities in Africa, said the town has made a landmark in the history that conjoined Africans as a race.ý

    ýSpeaking on the hardship posed by economic recession being experience by Nigerians, he lent his voice to the clamour to restructure Nigeria, saying the move remains the best alternative for genuine development.ý

    The OPC National Coordinator, who advocated immediate restructuring of Nigeria along regional lines to enhance the development of the country and rescue her from imminent crash, suggested the adoption of mutual understanding and compromise to make Nigeria workable.

    Adams, who assured Yoruba of adequate quality and efficient representation as being demonstrated by the organisation in its effort to provide security, said the OPC, in collaboration with other security agencies, had performed well by flushing the dreaded Badoo cultist group out of Lagos.

    ýEarlier, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Adetunji Olanipekun said decision to confer such revered chieftaincy title on Adams was in recognition of his tremendous contributions to the growth and development of Osogbo, Yoruba land, Nigeria and Africa.

    Ataoja, who described Adams as a symbol of Yoruba and African culture, said his position as the leader of OPC has been used to attract respect for Africans, particularly the Yoruba.

    “We don’t just confer titles on people if such beneficiaries cannot justify such titles. As par Gani Adams, he is eminently qualified for it. That is why we deemed it fit to bestow on him, the Agba Akin of Osogbo land.

    “To us, this title is historic and valued in Osogbo and Yoruba nation and we believe strongly that it will not only encourage him to do more in impacting on the lives of the people but will also help in strengthening our cultural heritage as his new title is a round peg in a round hole”, Ataoja said.

  • Hate Speeches: It’s time to restructure Nigeria — OPC

    Hate Speeches: It’s time to restructure Nigeria — OPC

    The National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, says it’s time to restructure Nigeria to curb hate speeches currently being experienced in the country.

    Adams in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday said that hate speeches indicated that all was not well with the country politically.

    “With the present hate speeches, it is an indication that all is not well with us politically and we need to do something fast about it before it degenerates into crisis.

    “I have been hearing from the government that there are lots of hate speeches in the country from different groups, even from the political players.

    “I believe that under democracy, the government must learn the civil way of addressing such anormally because of freedom of speech as entrenched in the constitution.

    “Also, if anyone says anything that contravenes the law, such an individual is liable to face the full weight of the law but that does not mean government should go overboard,’’ he said.

    Adams said that various groups agitating within the federation are reflection that injustice is prevailing in the country, adding that only restructuring would help douse the tension.

    “We can’t cow people. I am aware of the various interest groups such as Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Arewa Youths and other groups.

    “With Arewa Youths giving Oct. 1 as deadline; I believe that in any society, when injustice prevails, they will be experiencing the same situation as ours. This country needs restructuring.

    “The only problem we have is that we are not well structured from the time we had our independence which warrants all these hate speeches flying around.

    “In our society, if the right thing is not done or delayed, it may bring anarchy; I appeal to the Federal Government as a matter of urgency to restructure Nigeria now,’’ he told NAN.

    Adams said that if the country continued without restructuring, many groups will rise to agitate more for their rights.

    “This country cannot continue without restructuring because people will express their rights for liberty and we cannot avoid this. They will continue to agitate.

    “If we consider what happens during the military we will see that we cannot stop agitation from people. We fought the military through agitation and we won.

    “At the end, the wish of the people will prevail, so to reduce all these ugly incidences and to sanitise our society, the government have their responsibility.

    “Government must do the wish of the people because democracy is the government of the people, for the people and by the people. We cannot call the peoples bluff,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • Lagos police arrest seven suspects in new underground kidnappers den

    Lagos police arrest seven suspects in new underground kidnappers den

    The police in Lagos have arrested seven suspected ritualists following the discovery of an underground kidnappers’ den at Obadeyi in Ijaye area of the state.

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, told newsmen at the scene on Tuesday evening that the dungeon was discovered by joint efforts of security agents and members of the public.

    According to Owoseni, the place was discovered after a highway sweeper with the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) raised an alarm when she heard the voice of a woman calling for help from the canal.

    He said that two of those caught were set ablaze by the mob before the arrival of the police at the scene.

    Owoseni said that detectives would be on ground on Wednesday with more sniffer dogs and other security gadgets to ascertain more facts concerning the incident.

    “In the process, people moved in there to help and also noticed that some persons who had some charms like gourd in their mouths tried to escape and that made the crowd to suspect something unusual.

    “For now about seven persons, who are suspected to be using those buildings as base for rituals, have been arrested.

    “We will continue to give it a touch of professionalism and scientific approach by deploying sniffer dogs that can also penetrate into the canal to see whether we can get materials to be of evidential value,” Owoseni said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items including clothes, under wears, identity cards and wigs of people suspected to be victims were seen at an abandoned house near the canal reportedly used as a hideout by the suspects.

    According to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, two of the kidnappers had come out of the canal in an attempt to escape but they were overpowered by the angry mob.

    Mr Fatai Ajibola, an eyewitness, said that some members of Oodua Peoples’ Congress also went into the dungeon to continue with the search and recovered shoes, clothes and other female items.

    A resident, who identified himself simply as Kunle, said the discovery of the den came as a surprise to most members of the community.

    “Most of us in the estate pass through the bridge on daily basis without observing such a thing under the bridge; only God knows how many people that have been killed by the ritual killers in the dungeon.” he said.

    The police commissioner said that investigation was underway and assured that perpetrators would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

  • Expectant woman seeks dissolution of 22 years marriage

    Expectant woman seeks dissolution of 22 years marriage

    An expectant woman, Biola Gani has requested the court to dissolve her marriage of 22 years with her husband who she claim is not responsible for the pregnancy.

    In a case with suit No. 40/2016 filed at a Grade C customary court sitting in Lagelu Local government, Iyana-offa, Biola is praying the court to end the marriage which had earlier produced three children for her husband on the ground of infidelity on the part of the man and which also propelled her to be dating someone else.

    She accused her husband of making her uncomfortable in the marriage which made her leave her matrimonial home to begin another relationship with one Munmodu Adeyemo.

    However, the accused husband, Mr. Kadir Ajala urged the court not to accede the request of his wife noting that he loves her and that he was the one responsible for her pregnancy.

    Both Ajala and Adeyemo were said to belong to the same camp of the Oodua People’s Congress, (OPC) in the area.

    Biola, who would prefer to be addressed in her maiden name as a way of expressing her determination to severe the marriage also accused her husband, Ajala of neglecting her and the three children the marriage.

    She told the court that for a long time, Ajala had stopped taking responsibility on her and the children which made her seek emotional and financial succour in the arm of another man.

    “I am not comfortable with the marriage, again. I have packed out from his house long before I started dating Mr. Munmodu Adeyemo.

    “I am not interested in my husband again, he only got me pregnant, he is not taking good care of me and even threatening to kill me anytime I complain. We have been married for 22years but I don’t want him again”, she told the court.

    In own presentation, Ajala prayed the court not to separate them because she has three grown up children for him.

    Ajala explained that she had earlier warned his wife not to join OPC but she refused and that the man she claimed to be dating has started threatening to kill him.

    “I know I am the one responsible for her pregnancy. Please, help me beg ‎my wife not to leave me because I love her so much and I have nothing against her or her about her attitude”, he told the court.

    Meanwhile, ‎Biola insisted that ‎she is no longer interested in Ajala, noting that four other women had had children for him to which he has also refused to take up their responsibilities as the father.

    ‎However, in his ruling, Deputy President of the court, Mr. Omoniyi Supo, who presided in the absence of the President, adjourned the case till Wednesday, February 22, 2017 for further hearing.

  • Residents flee as cultists mark anniversary

    Residents flee as cultists mark anniversary

    Residents of Fakale, Igode and Emuren communities, in the Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State have started fleeing their homes.

    It was learnt that the residents were afraid over the reports that suspected cult members of the Eiye Confraternity planned to unleash mayhem during their anniversary on Monday (today).

    It was gathered that some dwellers of Odo Kekere, Odo Nla and Itapara within the LGA had also vacated their homes, saying the cultists had vowed to cause bloodbath to mark the August 8 anniversary.

    Our correspondent had reported that some communities in Ogun State were under siege on July 7th, when some suspected Aye Confraternity members killed 11 persons, while marking the 7/7 anniversary.

    It was also reported that some other cult members stormed the Ogijo area last Wednesday and killed four residents.

    The head of Igode community, Chief Rafiu Idisu, told our correspondent on Sunday that no fewer than 70 residents had packed out for fear of being attacked in the coming August 8th celebration, which the cultists tagged, ‘8/8.’

    Idisu said he had drawn the attention of the Chairman, Sagamu LGA, Mr. Lola Awoniyi, to the tension in the community and urged the police to nip the pending attack in the bud.

    He said, “For the past three days now, there has been information across the community and its environs that Eiye cult members will attack people to mark their anniversary on Monday.

    “People have started leaving ssince then, especially those who live on new sites. About 70 residents have fled and residents in other communities such as Fakale, Itapara and Odo Kekere, are doing same.

    “I have informed the council chairman and he promised to do something about it. We want the police to position patrol vehicles around the communities to protect us because we have no place to run to. We don’t want a repeat of what happened on July 7th 2016.”

    The Secretary, Oodua People’s Congress, Fakale, Idris Lawal, said his members were aware of the development and had mounted surveillance at strategic points in the community to foil any attack.

    “We are fully prepared for them. We have assured our people to be calm, but those who are afraid have left. Policemen are also on patrol,” he added.

    The council chairman, Awoniyi, said security agencies had been informed to forestall any breach of the peace in the areas.

    He said, “We have alerted all the necessary security agencies to the threat. As the chief security officer of the council, necessary steps have been taken to forestall any attack. So, security wise, the communities are safe.”

    The acting Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Command, ASP Ambibola Oyeyemi, said policemen had been deployed in different parts of the state to check cult activities.

    He said, “The state Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Iliyasu, has made it clear that whoever parades himself as a cultist will be treated like an armed robber, kidnapper or murderer. The CP has ordered all the Divisional Police Officers to be on their toes.

    “Our Special Intelligence Bureau officers are at various parts of the state to nip in the bud any mob attack. People should not fear harassment from anywhere. They should go about their business in a normal way; we are on top of the situation. Nothing is going to happen in those communities because policemen are on the ground.”

  • Drunk driver kills two guards in Lagos

    Drunk driver kills two guards in Lagos

    Security guards at an S and H petrol in Okota as well as a member of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) have been killed after a drunk driver rammed into them.

    They were knocked down at different locations on Ago Palace Way by the hit-and-run driver speeding recklessly towards Festac.

    The deceased Tope Ani, 35, a.k.a. Baby Oku and Jeremaiah Samuel, 38, were knocked down at the wee hours of Saturday at their places of work, few meters from each other.

    It was learnt that Baby Oku, upon hearing Samuel’s scream at about 1:45am, came out and stood at the entrance of the filling station to ascertain what was happening.

    But the drunk driver of a blue VolksWagen T5 bus marked MUS497XG, swerved in his direction, knocking him down.

    Not satisfied, the killer driver was said to have pulled the guard and the tyre he fell on, as he ran, dragging the deceased on the interlocking tiles.

    According to an eyewitness, who said he was also on duty that night, Baby Oku died instantly, while the driver abandoned his bus at Ago last bus stop and fled.

    The Nation gathered that a third victim was also hit but the person sustained minor injury.

    It was gathered that the corpses of the deceased caused a scare in the area on Saturday morning until they were evacuated by policemen, who also retrieved the bus from where it was abandoned.

    At the time The Nation visited, the filling station was closed for business, while police vehicles were seen about 30 metres from the scene.

    The bus was also scene outside the police station, although no one has been arrested.

    Confirming the incident, the command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police  (SP) said the third victim was treated and discharged.

    She added that investigation was in progress to fish out the culprit.

  • Tension as gunmen kill OPC man, driver in Benin

    A leader of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), identified as Victor Omoruyi, has been killed in Benin, the Edo State capital.

    A commercial bus driver was also killed yesterday in the city by gunmen who were said to be walking in two groups of five and two men.

    Their deaths have heightened tension in the ancient city, where over 10 persons had been killed in various parts of the city since the clash began last Saturday.

    Both men were shot at close range by the armed men at Uselu in Egor Local Government Area and New Benin, the commercial nerve centre of the capital city.

    A source said Victor was killed at 8pm on Saturday at Uselu Quarters when he was returning home after attending an end-of-the-year function organised by the OPC.

    But an OPC member, Yomi Adeleye, said he was killed when youths with pump action guns stormed the meeting and shot him.

    The meeting was said to have appraised the anti-crime efforts of the group in the outgoing year.

    OPC members displayed Victor’s body on the street with a vow to avenge his death.

    The unidentified bus driver was killed yesterday.

    He was said to have been traced to the busy New Benin Motor Park, where he was shot in the head repeatedly in the presence of passengers in his bus.

    Police spokesman Noble Uwoh, a deputy superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the incidents.

    He said investigations into the killings had begun.