Aare GANI ADAMS Appoints 21 Council Chiefs

On Saturday, 12th January, 2019. Iba Gani Adams, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland,  installed new Aare Chiefs in Council. The event took place at 10 Degree Event Centre at Oregun in Ikeja, Lagos. A 21-Council members were appointed from different states in Yorubaland. These council members are trusted Yoruba sons and daughters who will ensure a successful reign for Aare Onakakanfo. It was learnt that Gani Adams is not the first Aare to instal Chiefs to help and support him in discharging his duties  as the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland.

In his speech at the installation, he said, that he was  the 13th Aare Onakakanfo to appoints Chiefs. Only two Aare did not appoint Chiefs. They were, according to him, Aare Ladoke Akintola the last premier of the defunct Western Region and Aare MKO Abiola who won the June 12, 1993 presidential election. They were the two Aare who did not appoint Chiefs because politics during their tenure was a very tough one.  They couldn’t’ appoint any council members. “From the time of Aare Kokorogangan to the time of Aare Latosha in 1888, there had always been a council member to support. Aare Gani Adams also stated that before he decided to choose or appoint Chiefs, he had taken permission from His Royal Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Alaafin of Oyo, and he was given the authority to appoint chiefs. We all know that a tree cannot make a forest’, and also it’s is very important to inform Elders before taking such decision”. He said that  Alaafin of Oyo also told him when he was about to appoint chiefs that he should make sure the nominees represent all the states in Yorubaland as the chieftaincy title same for all the Yoruba,  Adams stressed that Alaafin explained that  God just gave him the authority to approve the appointments. Alaafin  further emphasised that Aare Gani Adams should make sure that no state was left out, adding that it should spread to Yoruba in Kogi State and Kwara states despite that most people don’t consider them to be part of Yorubaland, Aare Gani Adams said he complied with Alaafin’s instruction and ensured that the appointments spread to all states concern. He chose 4 representatives from Kogi State, 3 representatives from Oyo State, 2 representatives from Ekiti State, 2 representatives from Ondo State, 3 representatives from Lagos State, 3 representatives from Ogun State and 2 representatives from Kwara State.

Aare Gani Adams also said, “No matter how powerful one is , as the Aare Onakakanfo, if he doesn’t have chiefs, he cannot be successful.

If anything should happen in Kogi State, there should be a representative of Aaare who would handle the situation. You could not expect Aare Gani Adams who stays in Lagos to handle all the situations or crises that arise in every state in Yorubaland. It’s not possible to be in Lagos and control what’s happening in Osun, Ekiti, Oyo at the same time. There is need for a representative in each state to make the of Aare reign successful.

Those chiefs were appointed for intelligence purposes and as representatives of Aare. He said that Modern Aare Onakakanfo, emerged in 1964. He was Aare Akintola. He asserted that  every week, Aare Onakakanfo receives no fewer 30 to 40 invitations and it is not possible for him to attend all the events. That is another reason for appointing Chief to represent him at events he could not attend. Another reason he appointed chief is to brainstorm on issues in Yorubaland, they cannot be discussing everything with the press. They need to take decisions before making it’s public. That is why those chiefs are called Aare in council are installed Aare Gani Adams said that any king who doesn’t have Chiefs is not a king, although he is not a king his positions as the Aare also demands that he has Chiefs to support him. He pleaded with the Obas to always support him. He also said that he would soon appoint prominent people as members of Aare Advisory Council in 2 months’ time. Their job is to advise Aare and his Chief because there are some issues that are not cultural and they will be the one to handle those issues because one of the problems, we have in Yorubaland is that, we hear different history about Yorubaland. The duties of the advisory councils are to work on the history of Yoruba and also make sure that there is Unity among the Obas because if Obas do not Unite, our politicians will not Unite, No matter how powerful a politician is, he is a subject of one Oba. The influence or impact of Obas on politicians cannot be quantified. The advisory council will work with elders, who are in the socio-cultural organisation, the Yoruba Councils of Elders. That is how they would move Yorubaland forward, Aare Gani Adams said before Yorubaland could move forward, we need “Restructuring”.  He also advised Nigerians to behave like elders, we should stop behaving like children.

Those who constitute the 21 council members are, Wale Abel from Kogi State, became the  “Balogun” Engr Emmanuel  Ajibero from Kogi State, became the “Otun”, Olusegun Dare from Kogi State became the “Agba Akin” Oluremi Dare from Kogi State became the Yeye Agba Akin”, Shola Oshunkeye from Osun State became the  “Baaroyin”, Capt. Micheal Adesina from Osun State because the “Baarejiroro” Akogun Gani Balogun from Oyo State became the “Osi”, Hon. Akeem Ige from Oyo State became the “Baameto”, Mrs. Ige  from Oyo State became the “Yeye Baameto”, Bar. Kehinde Oluwole from Ekiti State became the “Baamofin’, Rt. Hon. and Femi Bamisile from Ekiti became the  “Baareselu. Others on the list are; Otunba Kole Omolole from Ekiti State because the  “Baamofin’, Rt. Hon. Femi Bamisile from Ekiti became the  “Baareselu”, Otunba Kole Omololu from Ondo State because the “Odofin”, Barr. Kayode Ajulo from Ondo State because the “Mayegun”, Bar. Oguntimehin from Lagos State became the Asoju Aare, Prof. Kolawole Raheem from Lagos State became the “Parakoyi, Chief Ebudola Odedina from Lagos State became the “Fiwagboye”, Hon. Taofeek Isa from Kogi State became the  “Baare Gunwa”, Chief Kamorudeen Lamina from Ogun State became the “Borokinni”, Yewande Green from Ogun State became the “Yeye Shewa”, Alh Adiat Ayinke Alao from Ogun State became the “Iyalaje” and Chief Yaqub Adeshina from Kwara state became the “Akogun”.

-Toyin Ogundana

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