Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland land, Iba Gani Adams, has in Lagos installed 16 new chiefs drawn from different professional backgrounds as part of celebrations marking his second year in office.
The newly installed chiefs, who constitute the Aare Onakakanfo- Chiefs-in- Council include: former Special Adviser (SA) to former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, Adegboyega Salvador, who bags Otun Aare OnaKakanfo of Yorubaland; former Special Adviser to President Obasanjo and former Director, News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), Mr. Akinola Osuntokun, who became Ajagun-Nla Aare Ona kakanfo of Yoruba land; retired banker and an executive director, Mr. Segun Sanni, who got installed as Bashorun Aare Ona kakanfo of Yoruba land, among others.
Speaking at the installation on Wednesday, Aare Adams, clarified that there was no basis for comparison between
chiefs installed by the Aare Onakakanfo and those by the Alaafin of Oyo.
Adams was reacting to the news making the rounds in some quarters that the newly installed Mayegun of Yorubaland, Wasiu Ayinde, installed by the Alaafin was done to compete with Mayegun of Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, describing the news as the plan of some mischief makers that were doing everything possible to twist history and misinform the public.
Aare Adams pointed out that Alaafin is the only monarch with the pre-requisite power to appoint a chieftain representing the entire Yorubaland, noting that he was just doing his traditional roles as the generalisimo of Yorubaland.
Adams, while describing those he appointed into the new Aareonakakanfo Chiefs- in- Council as men and women of credible characters, pointed out that the stool of the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland was historic having been created in 1530 and dedicated to the head and king of all warriors in Yorubaland.
“The stool of the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland was historic. It was created in 1530 and dedicated to the head and king of all warriors in Yorubaland.
“As it was in the beginning, and over the ages, as well as now, the Aareonakakanfo, as the Generalissimo of all warriors in Yorubaland is kept in seclusion prior to his coronation. It was Alaafin, the imperial majesty that has the power to install Aare Onakakanfo and other chieftaincy titles that cover the entire Yorubaland.
“Once installed, the Aare Onakakanfo is mandated to have his Chiefs and Council of Chiefs. And all Aare Onakakanfos, since 1530, had Chiefs and Council of Chiefs. The only two exceptions in the long history of the institution were the late Aare S.L. A. Akintola, former Premier of the old Western Region, and the late Aare M.K.O. Abiola, winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, who could not constitute their councils due to the political developments of their respective periods,” Aare Adams recalled.
“At my inauguration as the 15th Aare Onakakanfo, our father, the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, and the Oyomesi gave me a specific mandate to carry out the functions of my office as the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland in tandem with the established tradition for the progress and wellness of Yorubaland”
“I was installed with a beaded crown called ‘Ade Idikoko,’ a sacred crown used to install any Aare Onakakanfo and a staff of office as the king of all warriors in Yorubaland,” he further recalled.
Adams, while noting that what was being at installation of the Aare Ona Kakanfo Chiefs-in-Council showed the unique import of tradition in Yoruba history, affirmed that the installation committee did well in the selection of designated chiefs “comprising people of note in the society.”
adding: “And this is what we replicate here today to show the unique import of tradition in Yoruba history.”
“The installation committee did well in the selection of designated Aare Ona Kakanfo chiefs in council comprising people of note in the society.
Others that were installed at the ceremony include: Former World Bank consultant, Dr. Gboyega Adejumo as Gbonka Aare Ona kakanfo of Yorubaland; former Director, Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court, Babajide Tanimowo as Atoloye Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land; US-based Tax consultant, Abiodun Adewale kuku as Otun Balogun Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland and wife, Mrs. Bolanle kuku as Erelu Aare Ona kakanfo of Yorubaland.
They also include: Sweden-based business man and dealer, Chief Victor Adewale as Akingbayi Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland; Alhaji Gani Wahab also from Sweden was installed as Tunaarese Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land.
The rest are: Alhaji Fatai Adeshina (Opo-Akin Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land) and wife Mrs. Fatai Adeshina (Yeye Opo-Akin Aare Ona Kakanfo), Oyo State Chairman of PCRC, Otunba Obafemi Arowoshola (Agbaoye), and Mrs. Esther Oyebola (Yeye Opeluwa Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land) and a prominent security consultant, Mr. Ibrahim Adeleke as Otun Baaregunwa Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, among others.
Tribune
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