*Restates commitment to unity of Yoruba race
The Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland,
Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, has assured the Olu of Warri, Oba
Ogiame Atuwatse III and the Itsekiri people that the Yoruba are always with them.
Iba Adams gave the assurances at the palace of the Warri monarch, saying Yoruba history has always shown that the Itsekiri have their ancestral lineage in Yoruba land.
The Yoruba generalissimo stated also that the Itsekiri are Yoruba descendants that are blessed with high-profile personalities like the late Pa Alfred Rewane and the former President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnicks, and a host of others.
While applauding the Olu of Warri’s intelligence, courage, humility and hospitality, Iba Gani Adams stated further that the monarch is brilliant and he is well-connected, insisting that all these qualities among others, reflected in the way the Itsekiri people guarded their culture and traditions jealously.
He added that over 250 million Yoruba from all over the world and more than 80 million descendants of Oduduwa in Nigeria proudly see the Itsekiri people as Yoruba.
“I am happy to be here because our history in Yoruba land attested to the fact that the Itsekiri people are descendants of our ancestor.
“Warri is blessed with a monarch that is brilliant, well-connected and humble.
“Our revered sage, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in his life, gave his all for the progress of the Itsekiri people because they are Yoruba and descendants of our great progenitor, Oduduwa.
“That was why you see great people of Itsekiri like the late Pa Alfred Rewane and a few others being great supporters of Yoruba cause.
“I remember how former President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnicks, urged me to make sure I visit the Olu of Warri.
“I was abroad during his official coronation, but I sent one of my chiefs to stand in for me at the grand event. The people of Itsekiri need us and we need them to keep the bond of our mutual ancestry”.
Iba Adams, however, urged the people of Itsekiri to remain united as that is the guiding principle of progress and development.
Oba Atuwatse, who spoke through the Ogwa Olusan of Warri, High Chief Brown Mene, expressed great appreciation to Iba Adams for his sense of history.
Mene stated also that the Itsekiri people have their roots in Ode Remo in Ijebu, Akure, Ilorin and Tapa, adding that Iba Gani Adams’ role in seeking unity, as well as the promotion of Yoruba culture and tradition, beyond the shores of Nigeria, is a worthy legacy that all descendants of Oduduwa are proud of.
“Our language is very similar to that of the Yoruba than any other tribes in the world. We are Yoruba and our forebears came with from Akure, Ode-Remo in Ijebu, Ilorin and Tapa.
“Our ancestors are the first settlers before the arrival of the Benin. We have our history and background as a people bonded by unique culture and traditions of the Yoruba.
“You cannot speak of Itsekiri people without remembering their ancestry as Yoruba. And I want to assure Iba Gani Adams that Itsekiri people are part of Yoruba.
“We shall swim together and fulfill the destiny of our race together”,the high chief stated
Meanwhile,the palace treated their guests with cultural and traditional rites and dances that signified the rich culture of the Itsekiri people.
Apart from the Warri chiefs and indigenes, members of the Aare in Council that were present at the palace include the Oosi Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Balogun, the Parakoyi Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Prof. Kolawole Raheem, Bameeto Aare Onakakanfo, Hon.Akeem Ademola Ige, Barejiro Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Dauda Asikolaye, Delta State coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress, Akeem Agboola, his counterparts from Edo, Mr Mathew Uwagwe, South-South coordinator, Chief Babatunde Ajayi, Special Assistant on Media to the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Kehinde Aderemi, Special Assistant on Special Duties, Samson Oseni, Lukman Adenuga and the Director of Graphics, Ibrahim Koleosho, among others.
