OPC Founder, Gani Adams Expresses Disappointment At NIJ

BY OBISANYA OLATUNJI.O

The founder of a faction of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Iba Gani Ige Abiodun Adams was guest speaker at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba yesterday.

It was Day Two of the students’ Week event and billed to deliver a lecture on culture and traditions, he used the opportunity to lash out at something he was finding unpleasant,

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He said it was unfortunate that Nigeria as a country had chosen foreign culture over indigenous culture.

He said this penchant had given preeminence to religion which was now eroding the people’s mindset, hindering them from appreciating their own value system.

According to him, this was unfortunate given that culture was a way of life of a people, be they Yoruba, Ibo or Hausa within an environment,

Adams who was represented by Barr Tanimowo Babajide, said the OPC had to institute a foundation called Oru foundation, with which it had been promoting over 23 cultural festival every year.

He said this was inspite of tags by some people that the congress was fetish and promoting barbaric practices.

According to him, while the congress solely funds some of the festivals, it collaborate with other in some. Some.

Adams said there was a differene between culture and tradition, religion, custom and law, and the Oodua Peoples Congress was just an organisation and not a religion, and that it had within its membership,  Christians ,Muslims and also traditionalist.

He cited Section 10 of the 1999 constitution as saying that the government of the federation or of a state shall not adopt any religion as state religion meaning religion should be left as a prerogative of the individual.

He said aside Nigeria that the OPC now had a diaspora presence, in 84 countries with the latest chapter located in Ontario, Canada.

He admonished the students to learn to appreciate and identify with their culture, as their heritage, and to love their neighbors irrespective of their religion.

A major highlight of the day was a premier of two movies produced by the Higher National Diploma 2 class.