The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, yesterday pronounced the National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, as the 16th Are Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland. It would be recalled that late MKO Abiola, from Abeokuta in Ogun State. who died in 1998 was the last holder of the prestigious Yoruba traditional title. Before him was the Late Samuel Ladoke Akintola who hailed from of Ogbomoso.
The position of the Yoruba warlord had been vacant until yesterday when a letter of appointment was given to the OPC leader by Oba Adeyemi, the permanent Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
The letter conveying the message was titled; ‘The making of new Are Ona Kakanfo’. Confirming the formal appointment yesterday was Gani Adams’ Personal Assistant, Mr. Segun Akanni, who in a telephone conversation with newsmen at about 7p.m, said: “We just received the appointment letter this evening.” Also, the OPC leader in a telephone chat said he was happy to be honoured with the prestigious Yoruba traditional title. The conferment, according to sources in the Oyo palace, was planned to coincide with the 79th birthday of the Alaafin.
