. By BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The ancient town of Oyo Alafin, the headquarters of the then Oyo Empire stood still for hours on Saturday January 13th this year for hours with the installation of the National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) Otunba Gani Abiodun Adams. as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land (Generalismo/Commander in Chief of the entire Oyo Empire Army).
In the years of old Oyo empire empire, the over 500 years old stool of Aare Ona Kakanfo to most of the people in the empire was a title too big to toy with as the holder of the office then can do and undo going by the supposedly “super natural powers” of most of the holders of the office in those days.
The last 14 Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland are as follows:
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 Ogbomoso
8. Edun of Gbogun
9. Amepo of Abemo
10. Kurumi of Ijaiye
11. Ojo Aburumaku of Ogbomoso (son of Toyeje of Ogbomosho)
12. Latoosa of Ibadan
13. Ladoke Akintola of Ogbomoso
14. M.K.O. Abiola of Abeokuta
According to the Chairman of the planning committee for the installation of Otunba Gani Adams as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu who is also an Oyo Prince, the office of the Aare Ona Kakanfo (Generalissimo of Yorubaland) was created by Alaafin Ajagbo in the 16th century as a way of ensuring proper coordination by serving as the commander of the Yoruba army in defending the Oyo empire territory. Bishop Ladigbolu added that for the smooth take off of the office, Alaafin Ajagbo Ajagbo appointed one of his friends named Kokorogangan as the first Aare Ona Kakanfo ( Generalissimo) of the Yorubaland and Commander of its army.
The journey to the January 13th installation of the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland began on October 15th 2017, barely 20 years after the death of the 14th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola when the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi named the National Cordinator of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland designate.
The office of Aare Ona Kakanfo as one of the leading Chieftaincy titles in Yorubaland was without its own myth and fears as it was the belief of the people in and outside the old Oyo empire that occupiers of the office often end up in violent ways, but going by the accounts of Bishop Ladigbolu, some of the myths about the office of the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland could best be described as mere fiction as nothing that stops the Aare Ona Kakanfo from residing in Oyo town with the Alaafin if the holder of the office wishes to do so and that “to accept the Aare Ona Kakanfo title is not a death warrant”
According Bishop Ladigbolu, some of the past Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland often died peaceful ,saying “Infact Ojo Aburumaku from Ogbomoso died in his house, he did not died in the war front. Aare Latosa from Ibadan also did not died at the war front. He too died in his house’
“Nothing stops Aare Ona Kakanfo from residing in Oyo.So anyone telling you that Kakanfo don’t see the Alaafin is telling you a myth. There is nothing that stops the Kakanfo seeing the Alaafin. He will want to see the Alaafin to plan. If he wishes to live in Oyo, there is noting that stops him. And you know the new Aare resides in Lagos. The Aare Ona Kakanfo will work in connection with all Yoruba leaders, traditional rulers in promoting the culture of our people and ensuring territorial integrity of our land, Nigeria’.
Saturday January, 13,2018 will forever be remembered as one of the most colourful days ever witnessed in this modern day Oyo town and the entire Yorubaland as prominent Yoruba sons and daughters from across the world stormed the town to grace the installation of Otunba Gani Adams as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland. A visit to Oyo town within 48hours to the installation proper will clearly revealed that a landmark event is about to take place with the entire town taking a new shape.
Though the new Aare Ona Kakanfo completed all the rites attached to the office on Friday January, 12 after his three days seclusion, the major events including the public presentation of the staff of office and the Aare Ona Kakanfo regalia to him was held on Saturday January, 13.
The grande finale of the installation proper kicked off at about 12.40pm when the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi and the new Aare Ona Kakanfo, Otunba Gani Adams arrived the Durbar stadium venue of the installation in a horse-driven chariot.
Before the arrival of the Alaafin and the new Aare Ona Kakanfo, the Durbar Stadium venue of the installation was a beehive of activities with cultural the display of various rich culture, tradition and customs of the Yoruba tribes to the admirations of those already seated awaiting the commencement of the installation particularly the foreign tourists while the security operatives on their parts were in firm control of the movement into and outside the stadium.
Oba Adeyemi while speaking after performing the final rite on the newly-installed Aare Ona Kakanfo tasked him, ( Otunba Gani Adams to devote his time and energy to the pursuance of unity and progress of the Yoruba race around the world in line with the dictates of his new office.
Chairman of the central committee in charge of the installation, Most Reverend Ayo Ladigbolu, in his welcome speech urged the new Aare to step up “peace-making, bridge-building and reconciliation and ensure that fanning the embers of unity and accord should be the major parts of the mandate of the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland.”, saying, “the modern Kakanfo does not need bows and arrows, guns and daggers, but he requires courage, boldness, bravery, focus, application of native intelligence to international issues, and the brilliance and adaptability to respond to the myriads of challenges facing our nation and world today. He requires the agility of youth and the stamina of a long distance runner, as well as the wisdom of Solomon to be all things to all people both in season and out of season.”
The 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Aare Gani Adams in his
eacceptance speech mince no words in expressing. his determination towards sustaining and maintain the reigning peace and stability in and across the entire Yorubaland, saying his installation as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland will surely signified the beginning a new dawn in Yoruba land.
“As the 15th Aare Ona Kakanafo, I consider myself lucky that there is no war at hand confronting the Yoruba race now. In other words, we are living in peace time. However, I am not pleased with the level of Yoruba unity today and I am very concerned. Therefore, my greatest priority is the unity of the Yoruba race at home and in the Diaspora. I will, therefore, spare no effort in ensuring the unity of Yoruba race within the contemporary Nigeria body polity,”
Aare Ona Kakanfo Gani Adams added that to achieve the needed unity in Yorubaland, he is to liaise with seven non-partisan Yoruba elders to unite all Yoruba,saying,”I offer myself for service once it is for the advancement of the Yoruba race. The various groups in the South-West should also resolve their crises.
“I will also persuade seven of our elders, who are non-partisan, to work with me in uniting all Yoruba and resolve differences wherever they may arise, I want to assure you that I will work with various stakeholders to turn our land into a viable tourist destination. To our esteemed Governors in the South-West, I call for cooperation, no matter the party line. The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission should be empowered. And I want you all to see me as a partner in progress,” .
He however rained curses on those he tagged as enemies of the Yoruba race who are hell bent at causing disunity among the Yorubas, adding that “whoever works towards permanent division among the Yoruba people of Nigeria would not live long,”.
With the successful installation of Otunba Gani Adams as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland by the Alaafin of Oyo,Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, all eyes are now on Aare Ona Kakanfo Adams especially at this period of various challenges including security in and around Nigeria as a country.
