That the Yoruba Nation once placed great confidence in the ability of freedom fighter, Ganiyu Adams, to pursue and probably suppress her internal and external despots, is a statement of fact.
Otunba Adams lived up to the billings. He did not disappoint his admirers, and his preys.
However, at a point, the confidence reposed in the Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State born dogged rebel, took a hit!
The March 28, 2015 general elections that ushered in the incumbent Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government somewhat soured whatever affection the mainstream Yoruba nursed for Gani. Gani took side, they chorused, because his status as a fighter does entitle him to stand alone, and stay away from partisanship.
Meanwhile, there is good news. Otunba Adams who is the national coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), has expressed the OPC’s readiness to engage suspected militants and pipeline vandals who have been terrorizing some communities in Lagos and Ogun States.
According to reports, Adams, during a press conference last Thursday in Lagos to address the recent spate of attacks by suspected militants and pipeline vandals in South-West Nigeria, described the perpetrators as “criminals.”
The reports said that Gani revealed that, “some communities have been seeking the support of the OPC on the issue (of retaliating), but that he had to be sure that its (OPC) members would not be criminalized for any actions taken (while it engages the attackers).”
Otunba Adams, people admitted, was initially the Yoruba’s traditional defense chief. “Those who started the struggle with him soon became more urbane for the tedious ‘street-fight’ task”, noted a Yoruba leader this magazine spoke to two days ago.
Gani is a Yoruba leader, but most Yoruba see him as more than being just a leader, but a lone figure whose determination the Yoruba need at critical times.
Although, before the Goodluck Jonathan/Buhari election saga, there have been talks about the Gani faction of OPC fast turning to ‘Owambe’ group. That is why many lost hope, resigning to their fear that the Yoruba Nation might well have reached a point where her borders are opened to free attacks. Some even claimed that the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) was dead because they felt that Otunba Adams and his lieutenants were dedicating too much of the time, resources and energy needed to strengthen the OPC fighting force, to organizing branches of a new group called the Oodua Progressives Union (OPU), which they mockingly refer to as a social club.
“The OPC had been demonized by people, including those of Yoruba descent, security agents and the media in the past. What happened just about ten days ago in Ikorodu is highly unfortunate. But people of Yoruba are the only people that play politics with their lives and properties. When you have a dog that is preventing criminals from coming to your house and you take it to the veterinary to remove its teeth; when criminals come to your house, what will the dog use to fight them?”, noted Adams who added that, “we will put our house in order. We will work and do the appropriate thing at the appropriate time.”
-Folorunsho Hamsat
