The National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, has urged Nigerians, especially the Yoruba to promote their tradition and cultural heritage by according it with more respects for growth and development of the nation.
Speaking on Saturday in Lagos at a prayer session to kick off of the annual Olokun Festival, the OPC leader said many of the problems facing the country is due to total neglect of the rich heritage, tradition and culture inherited from the older generations.
His words: “We should ask ourselves where our problem is coming from. We are not like this in the 60s when we don’t have petroleum and solid minerals we are using now? We lived on agriculture and tax in those days. And the life we lived then is more convenient than where we are now. When a younger person fall, he looks at the front but if an elder falls, he will look at the back.
“So, we have to look at the back. What is the bane of our problem? What brings the spirit of corruption into our society that average person that got power always thinks to be a millionaire or multi-millionaire while in public office? We have to look inward that our heritage is angry.
“We are already in the system now. They said Goodluck Jonathan is not good as a president now they are saying President Muhammadu Buhari is not good. Who will be the next president that will be a good person? We have to look inward for solution.”
The OPC leader also implored all Yoruba, especially those in the struggle for Yoruba race not to neglect the tradition inherited from the fore fathers, nothing that all the three main religions in the country – Christianity, Islam and Traditional religion must be given special preference for the growth and development of Yoruba and Nigeria at large.
During the prayer session, which lasted for almost two hours; leaders of the three main religions offered prayers to God for success of the Olokun Festival and other activities of OPC as well as the leader of the organisation, Otunba Gani Adams.
Some of the personalities at the event are : Yomi Fash Lanso, Olokun Festival Foundation Ambassador, Femi Davies of Metronewsng, Akogun Gani Kayode Balogun, Prophet, Oluwo Fatunde Fakayode, Aare Agbefaga of Yoruba Land, Prophet Peter Oyewole, Prophet Michael Erikalofi among other.