THE final rites for the installation of Gani Adams as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland will begin on Wednesday, January 10.

Since he was designated as the Aare Ona Kakanfo in 2017 by Oba Lamidi Adeyemi II, the Alaafin of Oyo, Adams had been engaged in several processes that would lead to his installation on January 13, 2018 at Durbar Stadium, Oyo, Oyo State.

From Wednesday, the national coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, and founder of Oodua Progressive Union, which is in 79 countries, will be in seclusion in Oyo town.

According to information from the Media Office of the Aare Ona Kakanfo-designate, the schedule of rites, which will end in the wee hours of Saturday, January 13, had been drawn up by the Palace of Oba Adeyemi.

Also on the schedule of programme for the installation is a press conference to be addressed by the Oyo State Government to unveil the details of the installation ceremony on Saturday and provide guests and users of the ever-busy Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso Road with traffic diversion and parking arrangements.

Among the several dignitaries expected at the ceremony are the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN; Bukola Saraki, the president of the Senate; Yakubu Dogara, the speaker, House of Representatives; and Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife,.

Also expected are obas of the six South West States and those of Yoruba speaking areas of Kogi and Kwara States; captains of industry; and the Diplomatic Corps in Nigeria and representatives of foreign governments.

Adams, who succeeds the late Moshood Abiola, a business mogul, as Aare Ona Kakanfo, was appointed by Adeyemi on October 16, 2017.

He holds 52 chieftaincy titles.

As a human rights activist, he was involved in the struggle for the return of Nigeria to democracy after several years of military rule and has defended the rights of the underprivileged.

– Jan. 8, 2018 @ 12:20 GMT