Why Evil Befall Yorubaland – Aare Gani Adams

Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has said there is evil in Yorubaland because the people have abandoned their cultural heritage.

Adams who spoke at the second edition of Odo Erelu festival held at Meiran community in Lagos, asked the Yoruba sons and daughters to go back to their roots in tackling the evils bedeviling the Yoruba race.

He stated that “there is joy, peace and tranquility in celebrating our cultural heritage.”

The Yoruba war general also advised the South-West Governors to embrace the Yoruba anthem in their activities, disclosing that only Osun and Ondo have adopted the rendition of the anthem in their state functions.

He reiterated that the insecurity and economic downturn in the region can be resolved through the embrace of the Yoruba cultural heritage.

He said, “Many of the evils that befall us in Yorubaland today came as a result of our ignorance and failures to celebrate our ancestors.

“Never in the history of Yoruba race have we suffered untold hardship like famine, economic downturn, insecurity and regression as it is today. All these problems happened to us because we didn’t do the needful.

“It became our lot because abandoned our culture, tradition and heritage. Even our language which remains a potent tool to project our culture suffers the most.

“In history, the Yoruba are most unassuming race. We are a very successful race. We have records of our best and most outstanding products in science, arts, politics, economy, and literature across the world.

“Many of our best brains are doing wonders in the world. And we can feel their impacts in the global communities. The point still remains that we should to go back to our roots.”

He observed that the Yoruba anthem, which was written by the late Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in 1978 and sang by Chief Herbert Ogunde, remains evergreen till date.

He challenged the South-West Governors in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti to take a cue from Osun and Ondo by embracing the items, saying the spirit behind it is beyond what can be comprehended.

Adams added that the Yoruba culture is totally different from religion, and tasked all sons and daughters of the community to work towards sustaining the festival.

Speaking on the state of the nation, the Yoruba war general decried the high level of inflation in the country, saying the solution lies in restructuring the country to empower the federating units.