Oba of Benin, OmoN’oba N’edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare ll, has reunited the leadership of the Iba Gani Adams’ faction of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and that of the late Fredrick Faseun, saying that nothing could be achieved when a house is divided.
The revered monarch, while speaking at his palace, where the reconciliation parley took place on Wednesday, with several traditional rulers and OPC chieftains, among others, in attendance, emphasised the need for unity among the OPC, insisting that nothing could be achieved when a house is divided.
This was just the monarch quickly recalling that Iba Adams’ predecessor, the late Aare MKO Abiola, was a prominent figure in Nigeria who enjoyed much fame, honour, wealth, and reverence from all over the world.
Oba of Benin, while emphasising the need for unity and peace among all the leaders of OPC, urged members of the late Fasehun’s faction of the group to come together as one united family under Iba Adams, just as he applauded the Yoruba generalissimo’s zeal in ensuring that OPC remained one and united.
“We have Aare Gani Adams here in the palace. By virtue of his position as the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams remains the holder of a sacred stool.
“He is the generalissimo of the Yoruba race, and he is the leader of the OPC.
“So, I urge you all to support him as ambassador of the organisation and also ensure there is peace wherever you are as members of OPC,” Oba Ewuarell said.
Iba Adams, in his remarks, expressed appreciation to the revered monarch for his hospitality, saying that he was a beneficiary of the sacred stool of the Benin.
The Yoruba generalissimo, while further appreciating the great gesture, expressed the strong belief that “now is the time for us to unite and form a strong front that would enhance peace, unity, and progress of the Yoruba race.”
Adams recalled that Oranmiyan was the first king of Benin before becoming the Alaafin of Oyo, noting that the Alaafin of Oyo is the only king in Yoruba land who had the singular honour to appoint the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land.
The Yoruba generalissimo stated that Benin is rich in culture and tradition, pointing out that the people of Benin had always exhibited unprecedented respect for the revered stool.
“I appreciated the Oba of Benin for his hospitality. Oba Ewuare has demonstrated that Benin is truly the home of culture and tradition.
“This is evident in the way the Benin people preserve their culture and tradition, as well as the way they seek the return of their cultural artefacts from abroad.
“Benin has remained a reference point in the promotion of culture and tradition. We appreciate the palace for this great gesture, and I strongly believe that now is the time for us to unite and form a strong front that would enhance peace, unity, and progress for the Yoruba race,” he said.
Iba Adams vowed to promote the interests of the Yoruba race and also protect the traditional institutions and cultural identity of the Yoruba race.
According to him, the OPC as a big platform, working to consolidate our records of success, has the South West Security Stakeholders Group (SSSG) with over 14 groups, with other groups “also coming on board to ensure that Yoruba land is safe.”
“So, going forward, I will continue to fulfil my promise to seek unity and peace in Yoruba land, as I promised on January 13, 2018, when I became the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland in Oyo,” Iba Adams vowed.
He said the open-air NCC meeting in Benin, Edo State, is an opportunity for the OPC to sensitise the public on the activities of the organisation, assuring that the socio-cultural organisation under his leadership as the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land was ready to promote peace and also accommodate other groups in order to ensure that there’s peace across Yoruba land and beyond.
No fewer than 25 Benin Chiefs-in-Chiefs were present at the palace; leaders of the National Executive Council (NEC), the National Coordinating Council (NCC), and other members of the OPC were equally present at the palace.
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