NEWSROYALE Aare Kakanfo: Issues as OPC leader becomes Yoruba warlord
Past holders of the title of Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land were warriors who fought and died for a cause. It may be shear coincidences or destined, but most of them died for a cause. In the past, the Kakanfo was the Field Marshal and Supreme Generalissimo of the dreaded military of the Oyo Empire.
Because of the enormous powers the holder wielded as the Supreme Commander of the Army, the Kakanfo never lived in the same city with the Alaafin.
In the modern era, the title has become largely ceremonial.
The Kakanfo had dominion over almost all Yoruba territories at a time in the past extending to far away Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic.
According to history, past holders of the title were killed in controversial and gruesome circumstances.
The introduction of the title was informed by the need to fortify the ancient, pre-colonial army of the old Oyo Empire which at one time could boast of thousands of horsemen.
In recent times, the selection seem to have been informed by other considerations, the chief of which is the acceptability of the leader among a large section of people of the South West and such a leader being accepted as worthy of Yoruba leadership in Nigeria.
Past holders include: Kokoro Igangan of Iwoye-Ketu, Oyatope of Iwoye, Oyabi of Ajase, Adeta of Jabata, Oku of Jabata, Afonja l’aiya l’oko of Ilorin, Toyeje of Ogbomoso, Edun of Gbogan, Amepo of Abemo.
Others are Kurumi of Ijaye, Ojo Aburumaku of Ogbomoso (son of Toyeje), Latoosa of Ibadan, Ladoke Akintola (the Premier of defunct Western Region) and Chief M.K.O. Abiola who earned the title in 1988.
History also shows that this highest war title in Yoruba land which was created between the 16th and 17th centuries by Alaafin Ajagbo, who was said to have reigned in OyoIle, the then headquarters of the Oyo Nation is bestowed on someone considered to be brave and loyal to Alaafin and the Yoruba cause.
Apparently, the holder of the title must not be defeated in war. He is expected to either win the battle or died on the battlefield.
Though some argued that the title has now become ceremonial as wars are no longer fought but the last two holders were controversially killed.
The newly appointed Aare Ona Kakanfo, Otunba Gani Adams, said he accepted the title to further promote the interest of the Yoruba rotation.
Adams, a carpenter, who later became a freedom fighter for the Yoruba nation, hails from ArigidiAkoko area of Ondo State. He has demonstrated the beauty of selfdetermination to succeed in life.
Adams was born on April 30, 1970, at Arigidi-Akoko, Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State and started his education at the Army Children’s School, Otukpo, Benue State, before his father moved to Lagos, where he completed his primary education at Municipal Primary School, Surulere, in 1980.
He attended Ansar-Uddeen Secondary School, Randle Avenue, Surulere and later trained in furniture-making and interior decoration, which he completed in 1987. Upon completion, he was employed by Visinoni Stabilini, an Italian construction company in Lagos. He later resigned to start his own business.
Adams participated in the prodemocracy movements in the 90s and served as the Public Relations Officer of Mushin Local Government chapter of the Campaign for Democracy (CD) in 1993.
He earned diplomas at the International Aviation School, Ghana and the Lagos State University, Nigeria.
As the founding member and National Coordinator of the OPC, Adams rose to national limelight when he was declared wanted by then Inspector-General of Police and now Oba of Lagos, Musiliu Smith in 2000. He was accused in connection with the violent activities of the OPC. He was arrested on 22 August 2001 but was later released after being held in prisons in Lagos, Abeokuta and Abuja.
However, many reactions have trailed the appointment of Adams as the Aare Ona Kakanfo last week by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III at his 79th birthday and 47 years anniversary on the throne.
But a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a former governor of Lagos State, Chief Bola Tinubu, congratulated Adams on his appointment as the Yoruba “warlord.”
Tinubu, in the congratulatory message, said that Mr. Adams richly deserved the appointment and has never left anyone in doubt on his resolve to fight for the interest of the Yoruba nation.
He commended the Alaafin for appointing the OPC leader as the Aare Ona Kakanfo noting that the position has always been a significant one in Yorubaland, particularly in the old Oyo Empire.
A cultural ambassador to the Alaafin, Gomez Paula, told Daily Trust on Sunday that the Oba cannot give any title that will shorten the life span of someone close to him.
Also, one of the grandsons of the 12th Aare Ona Kakanfo, Asiwaju Nurudeen Akinade told Daily Trust on Sunday that it is not true that they die reluctantly. He pointed out that his grandfather was a Kakanfo who later became the Olubadan. “My grandfather died peacefully at the war camp. He was not killed by anybody. They don’t usually go to war except there is a serious issue at the war front,” he said.
Commenting on the matter that Adams is too young for the title, Akinade said nobody has the right to question Alaafin on the issue of Kakanfo.
He said the Alaafin must have done proper assessment and investigation before appointing Adams as the Aare. “The Alaafin we know must have conducted proper investigation before he made him the Aare. Nobody hold the title for about twenty years. So, let’s us ignore any criticism coming on the issue of Kakanfo.”
However, a Yoruba elder statesman, Senator Femi Okurounmu said Adams is too young for the title.
According to Okurounmu, who represented the Ogun-Central Senatorial District between 1999 and 2003 in the Senate, said although Adams had done a lot for the Yoruba nation, he still had a long way to go.
However, Adams, in an interview in Lagos, pointed out that the new position will greatly moderate his radicalism.
He pledged to use the position to make friends, resolve issues and fight for unity of Yoruba and the entire Nigeria.
The Alaafin debunked claims of financial inducement before choosing Adams as the Aare, explaining that the OPC leader was appointed based on his “worthy records”.
But, whether Adams is too young for the title or not, he is a freedom fighter who has sacrificed for the Yoruba people and placed their demands in the international limelight.