Dr Gani Adams, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land has lent his voice to the growing voices of prominent Nigerians and beyond, in total condemnation of the continuous killings in Benue, Taraba and other parts of the country.
Speaking to Journalists during his 48th birthday celebration at the Martinos, Hotel, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Adams said the present killings in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states have shown that Nigeria is seriously bleeding. He, however, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to do something urgently to stop the killings ”I sympathize with our brothers and sisters in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states in the Middle Belt.
“It is unusual that we have been experiencing these unwarranted killings since 2015, particularly, in the Northwest. I can understand the frustrations of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that was why they rose and protested against the unnecessary killings, I am using this opportunity to appeal to president Buhari to urgently stop the killings. The president was at the White House recently and the United States President, Donald Trump, made some salient remarks, noting that Christians were being killed in the country; we don’t want religious war in this country. We don’t want ethnic cleansing; we want to live in peace and harmony so that we can be proud of this country. The number one duty of every reasonable government is to protect the lives and property of the citizenry. If the country is secured and the citizenry are protected, other things will follow. A situation where people are secured, the nation will thrive, however, these killings are highly condemnable by any right thinking person in Nigeria,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said he was celebrating his birthday anniversary annually to appreciate God for the gift of life, adding that the event was organized for people, including family, friends and admirers from all over the world to wine and dine with him. ‘’I am happy to be alive to celebrate yet another milestone in the history of my life, despite all the trouble tribulations of life; I still count myself worthy of expressing my gratitude to God. The party, as well as the get-together is my symbol of thanksgiving to God’’.
“As part of my usual programme for my birthday, I was at the Motherless Babies Home and Old Peoples’ Home yesterday to donate some items for their upkeep. That is my own little way of appreciating God and touching peoples’ lives positively. You can see the roll call of guests, traditional rulers, business men and women and members of our group, the Oodua Progressive Union OPU abroad and the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, all in attendance to honor me. It is a great feeling, when you are being honored and appreciated by people, So my appreciation goes to all my guests here present, most especially, for their prayers, well wishes and gifts’’, he said.
Some of the guests present at the event were, wives of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi,,Zaki of Arigidi, Oba Yisa Olanipekun, representatives of Lagos monarch, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Chief Layi Labode,representing the Egba monarch, and other prominent monarchs in the Southwest, Amb. Wada Sodiq, special adviser to Gombe state governor on protocol, Dr. Adeleke Ipaye, special adviser to Osun state governor,prophetSamuel Kogberegbe, Mrs. Joe- Okei Odumakin, Shina Peller,Sally Mbanefo,Prof. Akintoye and several others.
Others groups include executive members of Eze Ndigbo, Ohaneze Ndigbo,Oodua Maritime, and top exco of Association of Nigerian Licensed Custom Agents(ANLCA)among others.
Packaged by Mayowa Owogbade
