By Adeyinka Adeniran
Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams has said Nigeria’s survival is rooted in restructuring, saying without restructuring, the fate of Nigeria would continue to hang in the balance.
Adams spoke at the 2024 edition of Elegbara Festival in Shasha, Lagos.
The Yoruba generalissimo stated also that the economic indices has shown that the naira is losing its value everyday, adding that, it has also affected every aspect of the country’s socio- economic situation including the budget proposal.
He said, “Nigeria’s problem is accumulating with the lost in the value of the naira. We need to appreciate our diversity, we need to also apply this to the structure of government by also embracing regionalism as the best approach to getting Nigeria out of this political mess.
“We need to remember the fact that the spirit of our founding fathers will not be happy with the present situation in the country. We must be ready to address the various challenges that are hindering the progress of Nigeria.
“The new year offers new hope and opportunities for us to address the structural deficits of Nigeria, and I think regionalism will help the country in achieving her greatest potentials as a nation.”
The Onishasha of Shasha Kingdom, Oba Nasiru Ogunronbi, expressed delight at the event, stressing the need to support the OPC in driving the cultural promotion agenda.
“We will always support Iba Gani Adams in driving the cultural promotion activities as that is the only way we can sustain our culture and tradition”, he said.
Also speaking, the Onimeiran of Meiran, Oba Ismaila Adewale Oroja urged all the traditional rulers to encourage cultural promotion activities, saying such move will always engender growth and development across the community.
In his remarks, the Oniladaba of Ladaba Kingdom, Oba Nureni Ebudola Odedina Alugbin restated the need to go back to the root of Yoruba ancestry.
The monarch stated further that many of the problems associated with insecurity, famine and hunger in Yoruba land was as a result of the long years of neglect of the Yoruba ancestors.
“In the good old days, Yoruba land was always a safe territory. There was food in abundance and nothing threatened our existence. But today, we hardly sleep with our two eyes closed and that has been the result of our neglect of our culture and tradition.
The Akinrogun Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Kazeem Hamzat who is also the Coordinator General applauded the support of the Chief Promoter of Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF) Iba Gani Adams for transforming the cultural terrain, even as he expressed appreciation to all the monarchs present.
“I want to appreciate all our royal fathers for finding time to be here. I appreciate all our members for their support and loyalty and I pray God to grant each and everyone of us the opportunity to witness another important moment in the coming years”, he added.
Apart from members of the Aareonakakanfo Chiefs in Council, the National Executive Council and National Coordinating Council of the OPC, other traditional rulers that were in attendance at the festival include the Alaguda of Aguda Kingdom, Oba Akeem Agbaosi, the Olu of Ipaja Kingdom, Oba Kolawole Ajani, the Alagbegishe of Agbegishe Kingdom, Oba Joseph Ikudaisi, the Onirokun of Irokun Kingdom, Oba Buari- Ola Balogun, the Oniladaba of Ladaba Kingdom, Oba Nureni Ebudola Odedina Alugbin, and the Onigege of Igege, Osun State, Oba Kazeem Adio Oyediran among others.
