Oodua People's Congress World-Wide Led By Iba Gani Adams Aare Ona Kakanfo

Ogun Festival 2023

Being a Text of Speech Delivered by the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, at the
2023 edition of Ogun Festival holding today,Tuesday,December 12 2023,at Ikorodu Town Hall, Ikorodu, Lagos.

It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this year edition of Ogun Festival here in Ikorodu.

I welcome our royal father and host, the Ayangbunren of Ikorodu, HRM Oba Kabiru Adewale Sotobi(KAS) and other royal fathers that are present here today.

I appreciate all our guests for being part of this programme.

God will shower His blessing on us as we look forward to the end of this year and the beginning of the new year.

Today,we draw the curtains on our festival programmes for the year.

Therefore, I am using this special opportunity to appreciate all our members for their courage and consistency from the beginning of the year to this present time.

In the last 12 months,our members have demonstrated strong will and determination in ensuring that we fulfill the dream of the organization.

And the success we are celebrating today was achieved since January when we began the annual festival calendar with the Oodua Festival in Ile Ife,Osun state.

Let me tell all our guests present here today that Ogun festival is very important to us as an organization, because it is the last festival we celebrate in the year.

It is also one of the most celebrated festivals in Yoruba land.

So,as we look forward to the new year,I believe strongly that the new year will be the year of abundant blessings,favour and success for each and everyone of us.

We shall all go into the new year with lots of joy, happiness and determination.And it is my hope that God will surely grant all our prayers.

OGUN:CELEBRATING THE GOD OF IRON/SPIRIT OF METAL WORK

As we roll out the drums to rejoice and celebrate Ogun festival today,
it is also very important for us to explain why we celebrate Ogun as a deity.

Ogun is well known as the god of Iron.He is a super warrior and the most powerful spirit of metal work.

In Yoruba land,Ogun is the deity of smiths and craftsmen.He is the
god of Iron that is behind all the technological discoveries and development in the world.

Whatever tools we use from Iron are instruments and object of Ogun.

In Yoruba history,Ogun was a very special deity from Ire,a town in the present Ekiti state.

But the god of Iron is well and mostly celebrated in Ondo state.

Today,Yoruba across the southwest region usually celebrate Ogun festival in their respective towns and communities.

As we celebrate Ogun festival here in Ikorodu,I am also using this great opportunity to appeal to indigenes of Ikorodu to start celebrating Eluku Festival in a big way.

Eluku is a prominent deity that needs to be celebrated in Ikorodu town.

Going by the history of this town,
indigenes of Ikorodu migrated from Sagamu.And they are also known as "omo Eluku Mede Mede".

From my findings,it is also revealing that Eluku was the 'Minister of Defence in Sagamu in those days.

And like the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land,Eluku was in charge of security and defence of the entire Sagamu and its environs.

Today,the people of Remo and other towns in the area still have Eluku shrines in their respective quarters.

Even indigenes of Sagamu still offer sacrifices to Eluku deity to ensure effective security in the town.

With this historical background and affinity,it is a thing of joy for all indigenes of Ikorodu to celebrate Eluku festival.

Ikorodu has the financial strengths and wherewithal to make this possible.

By celebrating Eluku festival in Ikorodu,the town will be peaceful and it will help in boosting the economy of the town.

As the chief security officer of Sagamu in the olden days,Eluku deity will bolster the security of Ikorodu,restore the lost glory of the town and make Ikorodu the most prosperous town in Lagos state.

KADUNA BOMBING:THE NEED TO APPEASE THE GOD

The military misadventure, bombing and killing of over 120 people at Tudun Biri Village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State was very sad and devastating.

It was very unfortunate that such a grave military error could lead to the death of several people that were celebrating Maulud Nabiyy at Tudun Biri village.

As much as I join other Nigerians to condemn the attack on innocent citizens of the village,I also believe that there is need for us to appease the gods in order to forestall future disasters.

In my view,I think we need to pacify the gods and the ancestors on the security situation of Nigeria.

The grave military error could not have occurred if we had appeased the gods in the spiritual realm.

They would have averted the unfortunate incident.

And such would not have happened in the real world.

In the same vein,let me use this opportunity to appeal to all our traditional rulers in the south west to look beyond the formality of their positions as the traditional rulers of their various communities.

They should rise to the occasion and see how they can help their towns and communities in seeking peace and progress of their towns and communities.

Stories of unexpected accidents, flooding and other bad omens can easily be curbed or avoided in Yoruba land and Nigeria as a whole through spiritual sacrifices and interventions.

For instance,in the olden days, our forefathers knew what to do in order to secure their communities against war and save themselves from unforseen crises and calamities that could lead to massive deaths.

Though,we are in the jet age with technology taken over all aspects of our lives,I still believe there is the need for us to seek spiritual method and intervention in solving those problems that have been the bane of our society.

Finally,as we approach the end of the year,the economy is also biting harder.

However,there is also need for us to go spiritual and seek the face of the most high God and that of our ancestors in solving this prolonged economic instability.

It is a fact that a country that fails to seek spiritual solution to its social and economic problem will continue to remain stagnant in the face of difficulties and hardships.

Thanks for listening, God bless you all.

Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams
Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land

Inner Leaders National Coordinating Council NCC Meeting

Part Of Annual Ogun Festival 2023.

12Th December 223.

PHOTOS: Royalty meets beauty as Aare Adams ties the knot with delectable Joy

PHOTOS: Royalty meets beauty as Aare Adams ties the knot with delectable Be a person of the people and only the best things in life will come your way. That was beautiful experience of the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, on Saturday, December 9,

ELEGBARA FESTIVAL 2023. (10th Edition)
The Moment Alhaji Taiye Currency Baba Honorable Entertain Dignitaries At Elegbara Festival 2023.

5Th December, 2023.

ELEGBARA FESTIVAL 2023 (10 EDITION)
Powered By Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF)

National Executive Council NEC, National Coordinating Council NCC, Departments, Members Of Ooduaa People's Congress OPC Embrace This Year ELEGBARA FESTIVAL 2023.

According to the scripture,the bible told us of how Elegbara disobeyed God for failing to bow for Adam as the head of all creatures in the beginning of life.

He eventually lost His throne in heaven and was sent out of heaven.
But God in His infinite mercy also granted His request to be the king and the arbiter of the earth.

Here on earth, Elegbara controls everything in life including wealth and beauty.

But as much as we cannot disagree with the truth,we believe God is all forgiving.

Ooduaa Agbawaa
Koni Gbe Odalee

Leaders Inner National Coordinating Council NCC Meeting, Part Of ANNUAL ELEGBARA FESTIVAL (10TH EDITION)

December 5Th, 2023.

Opening National Coordinating Council (NCC) Meeting Oyo State Chapter.

Date: 29th November, 2023.
Venue: MapoMapo Hall Ibadan, Oyo State.

Inner Leaders National Coordinating Council (NCC) Meeting, Held At Ace Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State.

29/11/2023.

National Executive Council (NEC)
National Coordinating Council (NCC)
Endorse Adebayo Ayorinde Lateef Has National Organizing Secretary Of Oodua People's Congress (OPC)

Congratulations Comrade ✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻

Inner National Coordinating Council Meeting
Held At HTD China Resorts, Lekki Lagos State
Part Of AJAGUMALE FESTIVAL 2023.

November 21, 2023.

Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF)
PRESENTS OYA FESTIVAL 2023 GRAND FINALE

KWARA STATE.

With the level of our sacrifices and commitments,it is obvious that only those that are committed to Yoruba cause that can withstand all the challenges we have been facing in sustaining the cultural promotion activities of our organization.

But,I believe strongly that our deities and ancestors will continue to strengthen us both spiritually, physically, and financially.

November 18, 2023.

What Oya and other deities symbolize to the progress of Yoruba land-Aare Gani Adams,

Being a text of speech Delivered by the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, at the 2023 edition of Oya Festival,holding today, Saturday, November 18,2023, at Ira Grammar School, Kwara state.

It is my pleasure to welcome you all to Ira town as we celebrate this year edition of Oya Festival.

I congratulate Kabiesi, the Onira of Ira,HRM Oba Abdul Wahab Oyetoro who is the royal host of today's event.

Kabiesi,ase yi, samodun o.

I also appreciate all the Ira council of chiefs for their presence.

I pray God will continue to bless us as we promote Yoruba culture and tradition across all the states in the south west and beyond.

Let me also appreciate all our members for their commitment to the cause.

With the level of our sacrifices and commitments,it is obvious that only those that are committed to Yoruba cause that can withstand all the challenges we have been facing in sustaining the cultural promotion activities of our organization.

But,I believe strongly that our deities and ancestors will continue to strengthen us both spiritually, physically, and financially.


RESTORING YORUBA CULTURE AND VALUE:MATTERS ARISING

Yoruba culture and tradition is one of the best in the world.

We are a blessed race in all aspects of our lives.

Our culture, history, language,and ethos stand us out as a people of great historical background.

As I stand before you today,I am happy to tell you that the Yoruba are great ambassadors of a culture that gives much respect to the elders.

We are hardworking,brilliant,honest, courteous and amazing.

The Yoruba culture and traditions reflect our deep sense of dressing with attires that showcase our culture and tradition.

That has also earned us global respect.

But it is unfortunate that our culture and traditions are now losing the value.

Yoruba cultural is now going down because of our ignorance and failure to appreciate what we have.

That is why it is very important for us as culture enthusiasts to restore the Yoruba culture and traditions.

That is why we must continue to promote the cultural identity of our race anytime, any day and wherever we are in the world.

For instance, great countries like Indian, Malaysia,Singapore ,Japan China,Thailand, Taiwan and others are proud of their respective cultures.

Their culture remains the most valuable thing they promote to the world.

And people can easily identify them with the way they dress and the language they speak.

They are great ambassadors of their respective countries because they are always proud of their culture and heritage.

Interestingly,their native languages remain the first language to them and they will always do everything to promote those languages wherever they are in the world.

It is very important to also say here that virtually all the countries that were being colonized by the British and American did not abandon their culture as well as their languages.

The whole of the 28 countries in Europe pick their native languages as the first before any other languages.

The German also takes pride in bringing their culture to the global stage

They create globally acceptable brand that showcases their interest in projecting their culture and tradition through the Goethe Institute

Goethe-Institute was established in many countries by the German government to offer quality support to best prepare the citizens of other countries for a successful life in Germany.

This is their own way of promoting their culture and the culture of the countries of their interests.

Remember,any country that loses its culture loses its identity.

So,I think there is a need for Nigeria to have one unifying language as the first language.

The different ethnic nationalities languages as well as the English language can be the second and third languages in Nigeria.

In my view,this will enhance unity and bring about the best in our diversity as a nation.

Today in the South West and across all the six continents of the world,I believe strongly that our efforts in keeping the hope of Yoruba race alive and restoring our culture is yielding positive results across Yoruba land and even beyond.

And I am happy that all Yoruba sons and daughters both in Nigeria and abroad are appreciating our efforts in restoring Yoruba culture and tradition through our cultural promotion activities.

OYA:A WAKE UP CALL TO THE KWARA STATE GOVERNMENT

Yoruba land is blessed with great ancestors, deities and goddess that are very important to the progress and development of the south west.

For instance,in Abeokuta, Ogun state,we have the Olumo rock.

In Osun state,we have Osun river goddess in Osogbo.

In Oyo,we have the Oranmiyan and in Ibadan,there is Okebadan.

In Arigidi Akoko, Ondo state we have Okota river goddess and several others.

In Nigeria today,Osun Osogbo festival remains one of the most celebrated festivals in the country.

We must commend the Osun state government's giant strides in renovating the Osun Osogbo groove.

The new facelift of the groove is a good development that will help in boosting the state's tourism potentials.And the state will be better for it.

On this note,I am appealing to the
Kwara state government to work on giving the Oya groove a new look, making it retain the respect as an historical sites.

The Kwara state government should create the myth that showcases the history and facts about Oya.

Oya goddess is a global deity that needs to be rebranded and well- packaged.

In Brazil,the popular Santos football club of the legendary Pele adopts Oya as their deity.

Her image and myth can be seen around the Santos football Club stadium/Arena and every other historical places in Brazil.

If the Brazilians can appreciate our goddess and deity to that extent,it is a big challenge for us to come to terms with the spiritual importance and value of promoting our deities and ancestors.

More importantly,the road from Offa to Ira is good and accessible at the moment.

But there is need for the state government to construct a road leading to the Oya groove here in Ira town.

TINAPA in Cross Rivers state became what it is today because it was well packaged by the state government to be a special tourists destination.

With good publicity and media package,Oya festival can be a global festival that will boost the tourism potentials of Kwara state.

Finally, all other tourism sites and destinations can be turned into gold mine if the Kwara state government can wake up and turn the state around through tourism.

This is the best way of advancing our cause as culture promoters

And it is also the next level of development that awaits our generation and the coming generation of Yoruba race.

Thanks for listening and God bless you all

Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams
Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land

OLOKUN FESTIVAL FOUNDATION (OFF)
PRESENTS Miss OYA Beauty Pageant 2023

Held At Avalon Hotel And Suite Hall Offa Kwara State.

17-11-2023.

Olokun Festival Foundation OFF

PRESENTS ODUN EGBE FESTIVAL 2023.

HELD AT IBEJU LEKKI
NOVEMBER 14, 2023.

Leaders Inner NCC Meeting
Held At Ibeju Lekki Lagos State

Part Of Egbe Festival 2023, Ibeju Lekki Lagos.

14th -11-2023

On Behalf Of Oodua People's Congress
We Celebrate Our Commitment And Hardworking Comrade Agbado Central LG Coordinating Chairman Com. Najeem Ogunremi (OLUWERI).

ASEYI SE EMIREEE

ODO ERELU FESTIVAL 2023 IN MEIRAN

Being a text of speech Delivered by the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, at the 2023 edition of Odo Erelu Festival,holding today,Thursday November 9 2023, at Meiran last Bus stop, Meiran, Lagos.

I am delighted to welcome you all to this year's edition of Odo-Erelu Festival.

I appreciate our royal father,who is also the royal host of today's event,
the Onimeiran of Meiran Kingdom,
His Royal Majesty,Oba Dr. Samuel Ismaila Adewale Awoyemi, Oroja 1,Akarakiri Ekun 2.

Kabiesi's efforts on this festival is noteworthy.And I commend his efforts in driving the cultural promotion activities of the town.

I also appreciate all our royal fathers that are here present.

God will strengthen us as we move on our journey towards promoting Yoruba culture and tradition.

What we are doing here today is to project the cultural identity of our race.

Interestingly,Odo- Erelu Festival is a major festival in Meiran town.

And as we celebrate the festival,let me also assure you all that we are not here alone;our ancestors and forebears are here with us; and they give us the necessary support that we need in doing our jobs.

That is why we have been able to sustain the cultural promotion activities for over two decades now.

USING CULTURAL FESTIVALS AS PANACEA FOR SOCIO- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Cultural festival is a big fiesta that can translate to both social and economic development.

There are more than 1001 cultural festivals that are being celebrated all over the world.

Today,cultural tourism has added a new vista of hope and development to the world.

Tourism has also helped in building strong ties, business networks,
global growth and development among all countries of the world.

More importantly,cultural festivals have remained a major platform that helps in sustaining the cultural identity of the people.

One of the best ways to define a people is to know and understand their culture and tradition.

Interestingly, the biggest festivals in the world is the Kumbh Mela festival in India.

It is a gathering that attracts more than 130 million people at a time.

The impact of this festival on the economy of Indian is huge.

Apart from this,there are other top 10 festivals in the world that usually celebrate culture, art and tradition of the various people and races in the world.

These include Carnival, Rio De- Janeiro,in Brazil, Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany;the Diwali,in India,Mardi Gras,in New Orleans,La Tomatina, Buñol,in Spain and the Chinese New Year in China.

For example,Rio De Janeiro is one of the most visited cities in the Southern Hemisphere.

It is well known for its natural settings,carnival and samba, bossa nova.

Several cultural festivals draw global attention to each of the country that celebrate the festivals.

And the country will continue to cherish the gathering that celebrate their culture and tradition.

Let me restate the fact that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s aim is to promote world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture.

The United Nations agency has also succeeded in projecting the cultural identity of the people, using cultural festivals platform to enhance cultural tourism.

In Nigeria today,we have many festivals that reflect the cultural identity of the Nigerian people.

For instance,in Yoruba land,the Obas are most revered because they are the representatives of God on earth.

Our traditional rulers are the custodians of our culture and tradition.

And it is their responsibility to preserve the sanctity of their stools, by making sure that they sustain the culture and the core values of the traditional institutions.

As the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land,I am using this opportunity to appeal to our traditional rulers, to try as much as they could, to promote the various festivals in their kingdoms.

Apart from celebrating festivals as a major tourism and economic booster,it also has many spiritual advantages.

So,rather than celebrating the day when a town or community was established,let us also celebrate our ancestors and deities in our towns and kingdoms.

This is the best way to enjoy the peace and progress that enhance social- economic development of every kingdom.

Also our traditional rulers should embrace the idea of impacting our core values of respect to the elders and that of Omoluabi to the people of their domains.

More importantly,it is the role of the government at all levels to help in promoting our languages.

For instance,Yoruba language should be a compulsory subject in all our various schools from the basic, secondary and tertiary institutions.

One of the best way to sustain our culture and tradition is to teach the younger generation everything they need to know about our language, culture and identity.

Our children should be taught about Ifa,for them to know and have basic and comprehensive knowledge about our history,our existence and the science of our languages.

Ifa's knowledge usually enhances our spiritual knowledge and gave insights into the background of our being and existence.

The Chinese and all the Asian countries will always teach their children the basic and core knowledge of their culture and traditions.

As far as I am concerned,there is nothing bad if we teach basic Ifa's traditional religion knowledge in our schools as we teach both the Christians Religion Knowledge (CRK)and Muslims Religion Knowledge (IRK) in our schools.

There is need for us to include Ifa and Traditional Religion Knowledge in our schools curriculums for us to balance the knowledge-base across all the three prominent religions.

The young generation of Yoruba race needs to know more about our traditional religion and the uniqueness of our race.

Our governors in the south west must support this worthy initiative.

So,I am using this opportunity to appeal to all the governors and the state legislatures in the south west to support the idea of making Ifa and the Yoruba traditional religion a compulsory subject in our schools.

The Igbos too can be teaching Ofa as it is called in their language.

This will help in advancing the knowledge about our culture, and traditions.

Itwill also help us to know more
about the rich African cultural heritage and myth.

In the good old days,the idea of embarking on a Caesarean section
(CS) during childbirth was never the practice.

Our forebears have the traditional knowledge and ways of easing child labour during the process of childbirth.

Such traditional method has never failed because it was tailored through the spiritualism of Yoruba traditional knowledge.

Despite the fact that the scientific and medical procedures have taken precedent over the traditional methods.The success recorded in those days cannot be disregarded.

In the good old days,barrenness was also handled traditionally .

The deep spiritual knowledge of our forebears provided better solution to the problem of barrenness.

But it is unfortunate that many of the problems we face today began when we started abandoning our culture, tradition and heritage.

And it has affected every areas of our lives as a race.

I think it is high time we rise to the challenges.

God has blessed our race to be the leading race among all races.

Therefore, we should not feel inferior to other races.

We should respect our culture, tradition and heritage.We should protect the core values of our race and we should be ready to promote the cultural identity of our race.

In the same vein,let me use this opportunity to appeal to all Yoruba sons and daughters to build strong marital institution.

The rate of divorce today in Yoruba land is alarming.

And there are several factors that are responsible for this societal ill.

Over reliance on western culture, poor economic and social setting, negative impact of social media, new movies culture,and societal influence also contribute alot to the prevailing divorce cases in our society.

These have also affected parenting and proper training of the children.

In an ideal setting,parenting that involves the father and mother is the best that will aid proper training of the children.

But this has been affected by high cases of divorce in our society.

In conclusion,our approach to this societal ill is not too good and we need to look beyond the ordinary and proffer lasting solution to the problem that is gradually becoming an aberration to the marital institution.

Thanks for listening God bless you all

Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams
Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land

Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF)
Presents ODO ERELU FESTIVAL 2023.

Host : Gen. Coordinator Com. Chief Kazeem Hamzat Akinrogun (Aare Onakakanfo Of Yoruba Land)

Venue :: Meran Lagos.

November 9, 2023.

PRESENTATION OF ENVELOP TO OUR FALLING HEROES AND HEROINES RELATIVES

OODUA PEOPLE'S CONGRESS (OPC)
LED BY:: IBA GANI ABIODUN IGE ADAMS
ÀÀRE ONAKANKAFO OF YORUBA LAND.

PRESENTS HEROES AND HEROINES DAY 2023.

AT OODUA HOUSE EZEKIEL STREET IKEJA LAGOS STATE

TODAY 8 NOVEMBER, 2023.

OODUA PEOPLE'S CONGRESS (OPC)
LED BY:: IBA GANI ABIODUN IGE ADAMS
ÀÀRE ONAKANKAFO OF YORUBA LAND.

PRESENTS HEROES AND HEROINES DAY 2023.

AT OODUA HOUSE EZEKIEL STREET IKEJA LAGOS STATE

TODAY 8 NOVEMBER, 2023.

November 8 2023
At Oodua House, Ezekiel Street Ikeja Lagos State

Why Fausat Bankole was dismissed from OPC,Tanimowo says
DE.REPORTORIAL TV November 01, 2023
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National General Secretary of the Oodua People's Congress (OPC) Barrister Babajide Tanimowo said former organizing secretary, Alhaja Fausat Bankole,popularly Iya Festac was dismissed because of her alleged unethical behaviours in the organization.

In a statement made available to the media,Tanimowo stated that the situation leading to the expulsion of Alhaja Bankole was thoroughly investigated and she was allegedly found guilty of the act that was capable of soiling the image of the organization.

"This is to notify the public that Alhaja Fausat Bankole is no longer a member of the Oodua People's Congress (OPC).

"She was dismissed as a result of her allegedly unethical behaviours and her expulsion had been ratified by the highest decision making organ of the organization, which is the National Executive Council (NEC) and National Coordinating Council NCC (NCC).

"We urge the public not to relate with her on behalf of the OPC, as a new national organizing secretary will be appointed to take over the leadership of the department.

"OPC will continue to promote the true ideology of the organization and also promote the cause of the Yoruba race.

"And in doing that,we will not allow any individual member to soil the image of the organization",he said

Meanwhile, efforts to get Alhaja Bankole's reaction was abortive as she declined comment on the issue.