The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland-designate, Dr Gani Adams has warned youths in the country not to compromise their future and that of the country by monetising it, just as he prescribed a return to regional system of governance as a way to overcome the challenges facing country.
Adams made the plea in Lagos on Friday while playing host to members of Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum (NENYLF) at his home.
In a statement made available by the Director of Media and Communication to the Aare designate, Femi Adepoju, Adams submitted that the future of the country lies in the hands of the youths, adding that all over the world, youths are taking over and Nigeria should not be an exception.
“Our future lies in our hands. The youths hold the future, who will say we can’t lead because of our age when youths are taking over the leadership even in the civilised world” he said.
Warning that the youths should not compromise their future because of money, Adams said it’s important for the youths to be focused and dedicated so that they can reap the fruit of their commitment to their race in no time.
“All over the world youths are making the difference in positions of leadership. Ooni of Ife ascended the throne at 41. I started the struggle at the age of 23 and I did not allow money or material things to derail me and at 47, I am the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land.
“ And I can see the hand of God in my life because I won’t compromise on my stand not to mortgage my future and the future of my people. They labelled me as stubborn, but the stubbornness is working to my advantage now” he said.
Registering the need for the restructuring of the country to enable a healthy co-existence of the diverse ethnic nationalities in the country, Aare Adams said the Yoruba have spoken through their summit last September in Ibadan that the country should revert to the tested 1963 constitution, which prescribed regionalism.
According to him, there must be justice and equity to attain unity in the country and this he believes could be attained if the country reverts to the application of the 1963 Constitution.
The youth leaders who spoke one after the other recognised the leadership qualities of the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo and submitted that there is no one who deserves the position in Yoruba land better than Adams because of his antecedent as an activist, rights defender and unrepentant promoter of culture.
The visiting leaders are Alhaji Shettima Yerima, Comrade Maxi Izigusoro, Comrade Eric Oluwole, and Comrade Esimaje Awani.