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| Aare Gani Adams. |
In life, one thing you should always avoid is following the
crowd or fighting other people's fight. When you fight, fight wisely. No matter
what people say about an individual, always make your findings. I am a
journalist. I have met a lot of people in my life; which I may not gleefully
come online to discuss. What I always find out about them is that they are
completely different from what the public perceive them to be. Many of these
personalities possess charming and amazing character_ a sharp departure from
the public perception. Part of what a journalist does is investigative
journalism. Being an Investigative journalist means being a fact-finding
journalist. It is all about being fair in reportage and summoning the rare
courage to state it as it is; without fair, favour, pandering to the public
emotion or playing to the gallery.
Yesterday, I honoured the invitation of Aare Gani Abiodun Ige
Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo-Designate of Yorubaland, in his Omole Phase II
Estate residence in Lagos. It was in the presence of his Chief of Staff,
Special Assistant on Strategy and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity. It
was an extensive and interesting discourse. It took us more than 2 hours. We
discussed array of issues; bordering on Yoruba history, bravery of the Alaafin
of Oyo, past Aare Ona Kakanfo and politics in Yorubaland.
As we were discussing, I was paying conscientious attention
to every detail about the new Aare Ona Kakanfo. I was scrupulous and meticulous
while listening to him. I was looking straight into his eyes. Though, our
conversation was in a relaxed mood; however, I never wanted to miss anything in
my submission on the personality of Gani Adams. I wanted to make a comparison
between what I have heard from the public and whom the man is really is. After
all, forming a contrast between reality and hearsay won't be a bad idea.
Therefore, I was reckful throughout our discussion.
The Gani Adams I met and spoke with is gentle and amiable.
His temperance does not betray his moderation of passion, patience, calmness and sedateness. He is a good
listener. I spoke for more than thirty minutes; without being interrupted. As
he was raptly listening to me, he was instructing his SA Media to take note of
some of my points. Let me say this: Aare Gani Adams is respectful and
level-headed. While his face beamed with contagious smile, he was calm and
composed; even when I showed him the Tell publication of September 3, 2001 on
his arrest during Obasanjo administration. He calmly explained the issue
without any feeling of derision. I felt wowed. Here is a man that does not feel
jeered in difficult or frustrating situations. He is self-possessed and full of
candour. He is as cool as a cucumber.
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| Aare Gani Adams & Adejare Ibrahim. |
My advice for the Aare is to intensify his efforts in making
peace reign across the length and breadth of the nation; especially Yorubaland.
Let him bring on board programmes and action plans that will help alleviate
poverty among the teeming populace. Our youths must be positively engaged.
Gangsterism, hooliganism, drug addiction, armed robbery and other vices must be
relentlessly wrestled and fought to a standstill. I see in the new Aare Ona
Kakanfo a man that is cleverly and passionately ready to bring all warring
factions together in peace and harmony. The long-standing misunderstanding
between Ife and Modakeke, Ijaw and Itsekiri etc should be nipped in the eternal
bud. Let him harmonise the thoughts of all the sociocultural groups (Afenifere,
YCE, OPC, OPU, ARG) in Yorubaland. Yorubas are civilised and intelligent ethnic
group. Let him pursue a peace agenda among all these groups.
Aare Gani Adams should vigorously campaign for the rebirth of
sound educational policies and modules among the stakeholders. There is an
urgent need for a blueprint on sustainable economic development. The
Development Agenda For Western Nigeria Commission (DAWN Commission) needs to be
rallied round. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy in Yorubaland. We
have arable and fertile land that are lying fallow. The Aare should work
assiduously towards bringing back this lost glory. We must take back our
rightful position in the comity of buoyant agro-allied nations of the world.
Our cocoa, cassava and yam cultivation must be brought back. Sport is another
area we need to develop. This is a potent avenue for youths' development. Aare
needs to collaborate with the sport ministries across the southwest
geopolitical zone. It should go beyond football. Other sports should be
developed. All these laudable programmes cannot be achieved in isolation. The
Aare Ona Kakanfo needs to effectively engage all stakeholders: State
Governments, Traditional Rulers, Politicians, Captains of Industry, NGOs,
Yorubas in the diaspora, youths, markets men and women, artisans and students.
Everyone must be brought on board.
The tasks ahead of Aare Gani Adams, the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo
of Yorubaland is enormous. By doing these, his name will inadvertently be inscribed
in gold in the hearts of all sons and daughters of Yoruba origin. He will
endear himself to the hearts of all. His name will be put side by side with
great people like Aare MKO Abiola and Aare Samuel Ladoke Akintola.
God bless the Aare Ona Kakanfo. God bless the Alaafin of Oyo.
God bless the entire Yorubaland. God bless Nigeria.
This story is published as was written by the author, without editing.
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