Traditional rulers across the south west region of Nigeria, traditionalists, politicians and other eminent personalities converged on Durbar Stadium, Oyo to witness the historic installation of Otunba Gani Adams as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland on Saturday.
Virtually all the roads in Yorubaland led to the Durbar Stadium, Oyo Alaafin venue of the installation ceremony which was filled to its capacity while people who wanted to gain access to the stadium to catch a glimpse of the whole event were more than those inside the stadium.
All entrances leading into the venue were blocked which prevented the free flow of vehicular movements as at 8 am.
The final rites of the four days events were performed on the new Aare in the presence of prominent traditional rulers who joined the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi amid fanfare and pageantry.
The prominent royalties that attended the ceremony included the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, the Owa of Obokun, Deji of Akure, Olu of Itshekri, among others while the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi was conspicuously absent at the occasion. Several traditional rulers from Kwara State were also sighted at the stadium.
Similarly, among the dignitaries that graced the occasion were the host Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi while the governors of Lagos, Osun, Ogun and Ondo States were represented excluding the Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele Fayose that neither came nor represented at the occasion.
Others guests included the former Governors Adebayo Alao Akala of Oyo State and Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, National President of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Usman Najeem Yasin, Senator Femi Ojudu, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Araba Ifeyemi Elebuibon, representatives of Hausa groups, Igbo groups, leaders and coordinators of Oodua groups and a host of others.
Commissioners for Tourism and Culture for almost all the South West states were present under the leadership of their host-commissioner, Mr Toye Arulogun, the man in charge of Oyo State’s Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu, the chairman of the organizing committee, in his opening address thanked all the great sons and daughters of Yorubaland who made the event possible. He saluted the courage of the Alaafin for taking a bold step to install the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo for Yorubaland.
Various speakers at the occasion tasked Aare Gani Adams to use his new position to advance the course of Yoruba race and ensure that Yoruba people are not left behind in the scheme of things in the country.
In his acceptance speech, Aare Ona Kakanfo, Otunba Gani Adams disclosed that he would do more as a bridge builder to spread the rich culture and tradition of the Yoruba to the world.
He added that he would spare no effort in ensuring the unity and stability of all sons and daughters of Yorubaland, promising that he would facilitate the coming home of the Yoruba in the diaspora to come home and invest their resources for the development of the region.
While appreciating those that have contributed to his successful installation as the Aare Ona Kakanfo including President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, South West Governors – Abiola Ajimobi, Ambode, Ibikunle Amosun, Rauf Aregbesola, Rotimi Akeredolu and Ayodele Fayose, Aare Gani Adams, however, appealed to the Federal government to ensure speedy completion of all the important federal roads in the south west including Lagos/Ibadan Express road, Oyo/Ogbomosho road, Osogbo/Ilesha road and others so as to aid economic development in the south west.
The event was anchored by Yemi Sodimu, Laolu Olatubosun, Bunmi Labiyi and others.
Packaged by Olayinka Agboola and Oyedapo Oyewole from Oyo Town
