Gani Adams Succeeds MKO Abiola As New Aare Ona Kakanfo

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, yesterday announced the National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Chief Gani Adams, as the 16th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland.

He succeeds the last occupant of the title, the late business mogul, Chief M. K. O. Abiola, who was the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election. Abiola died in detention in 1998, leaving the title vacant since then.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, approved this in a letter sent to Adams.

With this, Adams has become the foremost War General of Yorubaland.

Adams, an indigene of Arigidi-Akoko in Ondo State, is also the Convener of Oodua Progressive Union (OPU), Founder of Gani Adams Foundation, Chief Promoter of Olokun Festival Foundation and the Chairman/CEO of Donyx Global Concept.

Below is the list of former holders of the title:

1. Kokoro Gangan of Iwoye

2. Oyapote of Iwoye

3. Oyabi of Ajase

4. Adeta of Jabata

5. Oku of Jabata

6. Afonja of Ilorin

7. Toyeje of Ogbomosho

8. Edun of Gbogun

9. Amepo of Abemo

10. Kurumi of Ijaye

11. Ojo Aburumaku of Ogbomosho (son of Toyeje of Ogbomosho)

12. Latoosa of Ibadan

13. Lakode Akintola of Ogbomosho (Premier of the Western region in the First Republic)

14. MKO Abiola of Abeokuta (the only man in history to simultaneously hold the titles of Basorun of Ibadan and Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land.