The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has reacted to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s comment. that he can never visit his home.
Recall Obasanjo had during a recent visit to the residence of a notable leader of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, met Adams, whom he fell out with in 2005.
The media was agog with the news that Obasanjo had reconciled with Adams after a picture of both men surfaced online.
But the former President released a statement less than 24 hours after the meetibg, saying: “Whoever feels he needs a reconciliatory meeting with me should come to my residence in Abeokuta. I don’t have the need for any reconciliatory meeting with him.
“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.”
However, at a press conference on Tuesday, Adams said he is yet to understand what Obasanjo meant by “his past way of life.”
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.”
Adams, the National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress, was arrested during the administration of Obasanjo by the police for alleged violence in some parts of the country linked to his group.
