Why Gani Adams Has To Visit Igbajo, Kiriji War Site Before Becoming Aare Ona Kakanfo

There is a new development ahead of the formal installation of the National Coordinator of Odua People’s Congress (OPC) Chief Gani Adams, as Aare Ona Kakanfo in Yoruba land( Yoruba Generalissimo), scheduled to hold at Oyo town in January.

A Yoruba High Chief, Chief Sunday Akerele, Lijoka of Igbajo, an historical town in Osun State, has said that the final rite for Gani Adams as Yoruba generalissimo would be completed only at Igbajo, which was popular in Yoruba history as the theatre of war during the 16-year Yoruba war of 19th century and not Oyo.

Akerele made the disclosure while taking members of the Osun NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel round the historical war site, as part of the activities to mark the 2017 Press Week.

He said all the past Aare Ona Kakanfos, including the former Premier of the Western Region, Chief Ladoke Akintola were in the ancient town for their final rites.

Places at the Kiriji Memorial War Site in Igbajo where the final installation rites of the Aare Ona Kakanfo is done

Akerele added that the late business mogul turned politician, Chief Moshood Abiola, who was the last Aare Ona Kakanfo was the only one that did not visit the town for his final rite.

“Historically, this is the domain for the final rite of any Aare Ona Kakanfo (Yoruba Generalassimo) because the traditional regalia of that office is here with us.

“You know, Aare Latoosa, who was the generalissimo during the Kiriji war, and the 12th Aare Ona Kakanfo died here after the end of the war, and left the regalia behind for future Aare Ona Kakanfos.

“Gani Adams can only be a real and authentic generalissimo only if he comes here to perform his final rite”, he said.

In the same vein, the former Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr Sunday Akere, who hailed from the town opined that the town played a significant role in the advancement of Yoruba society.

He called on government to develop the war tourist site the way sites of that nature in Cuba, South America, were turned around and made viable, in which tourism remained the mainstay of that economy. Politictempo