Know your mate, respect your elders

Very recently, when I wrote to comment on the celebration of OPC, the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation's 30th anniversary and the inauguration of Oduduwa House (an edifice built as the secretariat of the OPC) in Ikeja by Iba Gani Adams, some miscreants and emergency PROs of the organisation flooded my inbox with criticism, questioning my position to challenge the leadership of OPC why they omitted and, or did not reference the contributions of Chief Frederick Fasheun, the pioneer leader of the organisation.

My initial observation was why these netizens did not make their comments under the said posts and they resulted to writing and coming against me in private. I am convinced that Chief Gani Adams would not have approved their childish criticism and attack.

My observation was borne out of genuine love and respect for Iba Gani Adams for his sacrifices and immeasurable hard work to bring the OPC to the enviable and admirable organisation it has become and the role the organisation has played in its agitation to ensure genuine emancipation for the Yoruba race. However, acknowledging and referencing the roles and contributions of Chief Frederick Fasehun would not have taken anything away from the the successive leadership efforts of Iba Gani Adam since 1999 when his faction broke away from the original group formed in 1994.

As a journalist, I covered extensively the activities of the two factions, a fact Chief Gani Adams knew and this did not stop him from playing a significant role at my marriage ceremony in 2004 (a photo of the event is herewith attached). I wonder where these emergency advisers of the Aare Ona Kakanfo were then). Even while Chief Gani Adams was declared wanted, he continued to meet and release press statement to some of us.

My advise to people who are privileged to surround public figures is to be sincere with them, offer their advice with diligence and selflessness. Most times, when leaders fail, it is as a result of selfish and misguided advice and advisers. 

Chief Gani Adams has taken OPC to an unimaginable height but to maintain and ensure that the purpose for which the organisation is established is not defeated or lost, he has to be in contact with the ordinary members and the Yoruba commoners and not some self-seeking advisers.