Gani Adams Says Obasanjo Not ‘Progressive’

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has taken a swipe at former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, describing him as someone who does not like “progressive” leaders.

Adams, who is the leader of the Oodua People’s Congress, said when Obasanjo was the president, he ordered his arrest for alleged violent activities of the OPC.

Obasanjo and Adams had last week met at the residence of Pa Ayo Adebanjo in Lagos and some newspapers reported that both of them were reconciled there .

However Obasanjo issued a statement after the event saying he did not go to Adebanjo’s residence to reconcile with Adams. He said he had no issues with him except that his past ways of life which he said did not tally with his own.

He said, “I have no quarrel wit­h Gani Adams, but for­ his past way of life­ which was not in acc­ord with my standards­ and principles. I have in the past, both­ in government and ou­t of government, refu­sed to grant Gani’s r­equest to visit me.

“If at all anybody fee­ls I have a quarrel w­ith him or her that needs reconciliation, ­such reconciliation w­ill, no doubt, take p­lace in my residence ­in Abeokuta only.”

But the Ààrẹ Ona Kakanfo, who spoke at a press conference on Tuesday, said that he did to understand what Obasanjo meant by his ways of life. He added that he had no need to go to Obasanjo for any reconcilitaion because there was no need for such.

He said, “I don’t know what baba Obasanjo meant by my way of life. I agree with him that we don’t have the same character because he’s not a progressive. Obasanjo will not like the character of any progressive Nigerian. I have never at anytime requested to meet Obasanjo as he claimed. I initially didn’t want to attend the meeting when Chief Ayo Adebanjo told me. But I decided to honour the invitation because Chief Adebanjo is one the Yoruba elders I respect so much.

“He (Obasanjo) stated in his statement that whoever feels he needs a reconciliatory meeting with him should come to his residence in Abeokuta. I don’t have the need for any reconciliatory meeting with him. That one has been foreclosed. I cannot even go to his house.”