The Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Gani Adams, on Wednesday, stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria’s structure, suggesting that the country should be restructured along regional lines to allow the federating units to operate independently.
He insisted that without such a change, Nigeria would continue to face the same problems it is currently grappling with.
Gani Adams expressed this viewpoint during his address at the grand finale of the 2023 Edition of the Olokun Festival in Badagry. He also called on the Federal Government to diversify Nigeria’s economy to protect the nation from potential economic crises that have been hindering its progress.
In his words, “The foundation of Nigeria’s structure is faulty. And we are yet to realize the fact that Nigeria is moving a step forward and three steps backwards.
“And until we restructure the country along regional lines by allowing the Federating units to operate at their own pace, Nigeria will continue to experience the same problems we experience today,” he said.
The Yoruba generalissimo, who is also the Chief promoter of Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF), while calling for diversification of the nation’s economy, urged the Federal Government to look into the tourism potentials of Badagry and further complete the road leading to the ancient town.
He stated that Badagry had the historic background of becoming a major tourism destination in Nigeria, adding that places like the “Point of No Return” and the first-storey building in Nigeria were contents for tourism.
“Badagry is a complete tourist site that is very close to the border. Tourists from Togo, Benin Republic and Ghana can easily visit Badagry and inject several millions of their currencies into the Nigerian economy.
“Transformation of Badagry into a tourist destination is a project that can turn the country around.
“Therefore, I urge the Federal Government to urgently work towards completing the project so that Nigerians, especially, the host community could benefit from this multi-billion-dollar project,” the Yoruba generalissimo said.
The Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Oyeniyi Olabisi, in his own remark, urged the Lagos State government to support Iba Adams in his desire to step up the template of promoting Yoruba culture and traditions.
“Let me appeal to the Lagos State government to support this worthy initiative as that will go a long way in sustaining the cultural identity of Yoruba race,” he said.
Other monarchs that spoke at the event include the Onibereko of Ibereko Kingdom, Oba Isreal Adewale Okoya; the Aholu Henwa of Kweme Kingdom, Oba Sejiro Ogungbe James JP Okiki Arolagbade; the Alapa of Egun Awori, Apa Kingdom, Oba Oyekanmi Ajose, and other traditional rulers from Benin Republic.
Prominent guests present at the event include the Osi Aare Ona kakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Kayode Balogun; Atoloye Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Babajide Tanimowo; Akinrogun Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Chief Kazeem Hamzat; Barejiro AareOnakakanfo, Chief Dauda Asikolaiye; Director, Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, Dr. Busola Odedina and her team from the agency; members of the National Executive Council (NEC) and National Coordinating Council (NCC) of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), among others.
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