National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Gani Adams
Otunba (Dr.) Gani Adams with members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) across the nation recently had a wonderful moment .It was a day the members of the Yoruba socio-cultural group gathered at the Government Technical College, yesterday at Abule- Ado, Lagos, to celebrate their annual Ifa festival.
The program was put together by Otunba (Dr.) Gani Adams the national co-ordinator of oodua people’s congress and the founder & chief host of gani adams foundation, a non government and voluntary organization to promote the Yoruba tradition, culture and heritage. The annual event also provided the right atmosphere for traditionalists and other religious leaders in the country to rub minds on issues relating to the sanctity of the Ifa as a universal deity and messenger of Orunmila.
Otunba (Dr.) Gani Adams also said that Nigeria's endemic corruption manifests in different and divergent forms, saying the trauma and frustration created by the scourge has made it an issue that needs to be urgently tackled.
Adams said the nation's corruption "ranges from petty, administrative or bureaucratic corruption that include transactions by individual public official who abuse their office by demanding bribes and kickbacks, diverting public funds, or waiting for favors in return for personal considerations to grand corruption which accommodates theft or misuse of vast amounts of public resources by state officials".
He pointed out that the nation's corruption also manifest in form of patronage, paternalism and clienteles, saying such occurs when officials use their official position to provide assistance to clients or colleagues within the same geographic, ethnic, or cultural origin so that they receive preferential treatment in their dealings with the public sector - including public sector employment.
As tradition demands of us as Yoruba people and customary with events organized by the Olokun Festival Foundation, we must give due respect and acknowledgement at all occasions and at all times to those that due to be respected.
The reason for this is the belief that those who fails to pay due respect to those they met must necessarily forfeit being welcomed.
Not only this, the proverbial goat that failed to give respect becomes incarcerated.
To avoid this negative fate, we must acknowledge and pay obeisance to both seen and unseen entities that deserved it.
Therefore, let me begin this address by paying special homage to Olodumare the omnipotent, omnipresence, the creator and everlasting God. I also pay homage to the over two hundred gods and goddess (Okanlelugba Irunmole) appointed by Olodumare to administer the entire universe.
We also pay homage to the aseda and the akoda. Permit me to also pay due respect to the manifestations of all spirits (benevolent and malevolent) and the representatives of other unseen forces that dwell on earth in different forms and influence human conducts.
We have done paid these homages to court their blessings and avert their annoyance. Last but not the least and importantly, I pay homage to all our royal fathers and chiefs that have come from far and near to dignify us with their presence and be part of the 2015 Ifa Festival.
As found with their peers in other parts of Africa and the world generally, the culture of religious observances hold a pride of place and are held sacrosanct by Yoruba people.
Respect for deities anchored on the belief in their importance permeates all facets of the religious rites of the Yoruba.
In Yoruba religious belief, the Orishas are next to Olodumare, the Almighty God.
They act as ministers and assist the Omnipotent, Omniscience and Omnipresence superintend over the earth and the activities of human beings.
Your Royal Highnesses and distinguished ladies and gentlemen, based on the importance we the Yoruba people attached to the Orisha and the enormous benefits are derivable from their veneration regularly, the Olokun Festival Foundation under my supervision as the Chief Promoter decided to organize events particularly festivals that puts the various deities of the Yoruba in spotlight.
Organizing and celebrating festivals in honour of these deities is our modest way of perpetuating memories of our indigenous religion and culture. Importantly, we celebrate these festivals to showcase the sterling qualities that can be emulated from these deites.
Orunmila is an Orisha whose presence transverse the Universe. Although, He is an Orisha of Yoruba Origin, he is venerated and celebrated mostly in Nigeria and other places where Yoruba descendants are found.
He is particularly popular in the Americas. Outside Nigeria, especially in Latin America, Orunmila is also known and called Orúnla, or Orúla. Among the Orisha, Orunmila is the god of wisdom, knowledge, and divination. Orunmila is a primordial Irunmole that was present both at the beginning of Creation. Among his peers, he is viewed as one endowed with knowledge and ethics.
Orunmila is the spirit of wisdom among the Irunmole. He is the divinity of destiny and prophecy.
He is "Ibikeji Olodumare" (second in command to Olodumare) and "eleri ipin" (witness of fate). It was Orunmila that first divinated through Ifá (the testament of Olodumare to mankind.
Ifa helps mankind to navigate the twists and turns of everyday existence. He provides solution to various problems associated with living and existence.
One of the problems that continue to dog Nigeria’s quest for growth and development is the issue of corruption.
The trauma created by this problem has made it an issue that needed to be urgently tackled if the country’s quests for development are to be realized.
In our country today, Corruption manifests in different forms. This range from petty, administrative, or bureaucratic corruption that include transactions by individual public officials who abuse their office by demanding bribes and kickbacks, diverting public funds, or awarding favors in return for personal considerations to grand corruption which accommodates theft or misuse of vast amounts of public resources by state officials.
Corruption also manifest in form of patronage, paternalism and clientelism.
This occurs when officials use their official position to provide assistance to clients or colleagues within the same geographic, ethnic, or cultural origin so that they receive preferential treatment in their dealings with the public sector, including public sector employment.
Corruption undermines democracy and the rule of law.
It leads to violations of human rights. It erodes public trust in government.
Source:highcelebritysquard
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