NewStats: 3,265,432 , 8,186,728 topics. Date: Saturday, 14 June 2025 at 10:53 PM 4gi3

[b]OTUNBA Gani Adams is the National Coordinator of the Odua People’s Congress, OPC. In this interview, Adams explains why leaders of South West zone are divided over the choice of presidential candidates to in the forthcoming elections.

[/b]He also bares his mind on the postponement of the general elections among other issues. Excerpts:

By Dapo Akinrefon
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How will you react to the INEC’s shift of the elections dates by six weeks?

Well, the shift in dates is as a result of necessities for cogent reasons such as the issues of security and adequate logistics for the exercise. Let me explain these by reminding you of the fact that the shared Permanent Voters’ Card (PVCs) was just 66 per cent while the remaining 34 per cent were still to be given out and that is about 24 million eligible Nigerians. I was so sad with the way the opposition handled the development. I just can’t imagine how comfortable they are that about 24 million Nigerians were to be disenfranchised; as a matter of fact, I won’t even be comfortable with 10,000 Nigerians not to talk of 24 million.

Secondly, the security chiefs declared they couldn’t guarantee security of INEC’s ad-hoc staff. How then will any sane person push for the exercise without the of security chiefs? For these two cogent reasons, I don’t see us going for free, fair and credible elections. We still have more than three months for the handover of government; there is no need for them to be too anxious more than the umpire.

Moreover, we have 27 political parties and 17 of them have declared that the election should be postponed and eight insisted that it be held, in as much as 17 has indicated interest in the shifting, it simply means majority of Nigerians have spoken.

Security challenges

The opposition has always been hiding behind security issue to condemn Jonathan, now the president wanted to tackle security challenges before the election, the opposition is again shouting foul. What they are criticizing Jonathan for is what the gentleman wanted to face in six weeks. Come to think of it, with or without the necessary amend, he has insisted on May 29 as handover date.

But some people alleged that President Jonathan is working towards interim government, what is your view of this?

Jonathan cannot propose an interim government and at the end of the day be the head of such arrangement, such move won’t be in the interest of Jonathan.

But most Yoruba are not ing Jonathan’s re-election bid, how do you see this development?

Jonathan or Buhari who will you pick ?
Jonathan or Buhari who will you pick ?
We don’t need to deceive ourselves. The main group in Yorubaland, Afenifere has spoken; Afenifere the political arrowhead of Yoruba people has declared for Jonathan. Even Dr. Frederick Fasehun, the owner of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) has endorsed Jonathan, even before Afenifere. I don’t have problem with Buhari, but I have serious problem with the people that surround him. So in conclusion, 85 per cent of Lagosians want Jonathan.

What is your assessment of the campaign?

They should stop blackmailing or discrediting each other. They should come out with facts to convince people, stop calling people who have sacrificed for the nation different names. In my own opinion there is no difference between the two major political parties, the APC and the PDP.

They are calling for personality change but they are not calling for institutional change. When you said the present structure should not change and you are saying the president should change. If you say Buhari should be the president what of the institutions that have not changed. We went to the national conference to restructure Nigeria, to change the institutions. And the institutions are always more powerful than any individual.

I am not saying Jonathan is a saint because if those people around him are corrupt and he cannot deal with them, then it means he also has some skeletons in his cupboard. But Jonathan is quite different from the caliber of people we have in APC. You know what is happening in Ogun State when somebody was building bridges where there is no water. When you are having a billion naira bridges and there is no free education. People of Oyo State are crying because the government of the state shut its door against the masses.

But despite Afenifere’s endorsement of Jonathan, prominent Yoruba leaders are ing Buhari. What do you have to say to this?

I think you are having the mindset that some Yoruba leaders are ing Jonathan. How many of them were in the struggle except for General Alani Akinrinade and Hon. Wale Oshun? Oshun is very close to APC. And there is no way you can separate Akinrinade and Tinubu. Yes they are always together. Akinrinade may not be partisan but you can separate him from Tinubu, they have close relationship.

I got to know that when we were in the national conference. When you are however talking about the core people who always fight for the course of the Yoruba and those whose voice you hear about regionalism and introduction of parliamentary system, you talk of myself as the leader of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC leader at the conference and the Afeniferes who believe that no matter the situation, the course of Yoruba must be championed at the conference.

Enough education

In Yorubaland I when I became leader of OPC, people say I did not have enough education to be a leader. Therefore, I went to school, I trained myself and I went to school. I went to even write WAEC, I went to write NECO, I wrote WAEC again. I went to Ghana to get a diploma, I got a diploma in Lagos State University onward to receiving a degree, but now Buhari is being alleged of not having a School Certificate.

The opposition said the election was postponed because Jonathan was afraid to lose the election.

That is propaganda, many things you hear from them, about 50 per cent of them is propaganda. Sultan of Sokoto said he has not got his PVC, I just got my PVC on Friday and in my house almost all the 35 people that ed, it is only me and two others that got theirs, 32 other are yet to receive theirs, and you now say the election should hold, and you are blaming Jonathan.

If there is crisis after the election, they will now say Jonathan has caused crisis. The Service Chiefs said they were not ready for the election.

.

I had to read this interview twice to be sure that the headline is misleading. The appropriate title should be. "Gani Adams endorses Jonathan!"
What I found strange is that Otunba Adams is not bold to publicly state this. He knows that afenifere made a political blunder by not capturing the dominant political sentiments of the yoruba. I expect him to be the "third alternative" in yoruba political ideology.
He has made his choice.

The whole factions of OPC have endorsed GEJ, I can see cruise control for GEJ

The biased Mods won't allow this to reach reach front page

Gani Adams made salient points which calls for one to ponder. Some of us are interested in strong institution and good governance. Why can't we implement some of the recommendations of the National Conference? Jonathan should come open

They are calling for personality change but they are not calling for institutional change. When you said the present structure should not change and you are saying the president should change. If you say Buhari should be the president what of the institutions that have not changed. We went to the national conference to restructure Nigeria, to change the institutions. And the institutions are always more powerful than any individual.

Shame on Gani Adams

A once respected fellow has lost all his credibility.

That's our 20 billion dollars working, just get ready to return everything you're given after May 29th

malele:
The biased Mods won't allow this to reach reach front page

bizlifelines:
I had to read this interview twice to be sure that the headline is misleading. The appropriate title should be. "Gani Adams endorses Jonathan!"
What I found strange is that Otunba Adams is not bold to publicly state this. He knows that afenifere made a political blunder by not capturing the dominant political sentiments of the yoruba. I expect him to be the "third alternative" in yoruba political ideology.
He has made his choice.

He endorsed Jonathan long ago. You missed that bit.

peckhamboi:
Shame on Gani Adams

A once respected fellow has lost all his credibility.

That's our 20 billion dollars working, just get ready to return everything you're given after May 29th

Haba bros, wetin Gani do na? he only spoke his mind.

Gani Adams has collected his own share of the 21billion and yarning okpata.

ogbeni, park go one side. As for me and my family na Buhari o.

i will comment on just one aspect of his speech, jonathan had all the years in office to tackle security challenges he did nothing why must it be during elections that he feels he can end boko haram? another evidence that jonathan is sponsoring boko haram. he had all the years while in office yet did nothing about it. why is he so sure of ending boko haram or insecurity in six weeks. then when i say the millitary and all other security units has being politicalised some one will stand and tell me not to say that. well, nigerians are no longer foolish they are all wise up now, lets see what the six weeks will hold for us. as for me and my house we shall vote APC

Faibuhari:
The whole factions of OPC have endorsed GEJ, I can see cruise control for GEJ

The situation is different, the average southwesterner isn't going to vote Jonathan. The only hope for him are easterners, some party loyalists

But all in all, he should be able get 25-30% in almost all southwest states, except for places like Ekiti and Lagos where he could win and get upwards of 40,50% respectively.

Mimiko has destroyed PDP's chance of winning ondo

I overheard four 'okada' men arguing about Boko-Haram, three ing the view that APC is behind Boko-Haram and one leading a faint defence of APC. This are the real people voting and not e-warriors on NL.
So my predictions could end up wrong and PDP sweep most of the southwest

85per cent wants GEJ... Oga I laugh your Ass..
People too weak to follow their own dreams will always find a way to discourage yours.
#IHaveDecided to vote for GMB...

Gani Adams is a glorify tout, he does not represent the yoruba race. If he think he's that prominent he should contest for an elective position and let prove his popularity.

Promhize:


The situation is different, the average southwesterner isn't going to vote Jonathan. The only hope for him are easterners and probably rigging.

But all in all, he should be able get 25-30% in almost all southwest states, except for places like Ekiti and Lagos where he could win and get upwards of 40,50% respectively.

Mimiko has destroyed PDP's chance of winning ondo

bros keep deceiving your self 25-30% koor. u think we gonna let anybody to brainwash here......... you will be surprise if Jonathan eventually get 50% or even more cause I belief the two prominent political parties are the same. most PDP are still APC the same mentality.

Keep deceiving Mr. President, I don't blame Mr. Gani Adams ...he wan try collect small change from the President. Even at that, deceiving him that 85% lagosians want #GEJ is too ridiculous... Mr. Gani, Fear God, lie moderately

#GeneralMarch4Buhari

barcanista:
Haba bros, wetin Gani do na? he only spoke his mind.

Tell him oo. How far?

agabaI23:
Tell him oo. How far?

Far! I feel we should draw a line between criticism and total opposition. Reading Gani Adams, he looked at this from a different perspectives. I may not agree with some of his position but saying that he has been paid based on his position is over-flogging which I think isn't too appropriate

PDP POWER! Front page pls
NL has bin hijacked by some "apc thugs"

Yorubas need to vote for a southerner.

Where's their southern solidarity?

agabaI23:
Tell him oo. How far?

Far! I feel we should draw a line between criticism and total opposition. Reading Gani Adams, he looked at this from a different perspectives. I may not agree with some of his position but saying that he has been paid based on his position is over-flogging which I think isn't too appropriate.

Some people don't even know anything about south west,majority of us believed opc is full of thugs

The legacy of OPC has been downgraded to gate man. Gani should speak about his boys.

wilsondave:
bros keep deceiving your self 25-30% koor. u think we gonna let anybody to brainwash here......... you will be surprise if Jonathan eventually get 50% or even more cause I belief the two prominent political parties are the same. most PDP are still APC the same mentality.

Southwest is still APC's stronghold. All we can make now are speculations, it could go either way

Promhize:


The situation is different, the average southwesterner isn't going to vote Jonathan. The only hope for him are easterners, some party loyalists

But all in all, he should be able get 25-30% in almost all southwest states, except for places like Ekiti and Lagos where he could win and get upwards of 40,50% respectively.

Mimiko has destroyed PDP's chance of winning ondo

I overheard four 'okada' men arguing about Boko-Haram, three ing the view that APC is behind Boko-Haram and one leading a faint defence of APC. This are the real people voting and not e-warriors on NL.
So my predictions could end up wrong and PDP sweep most of the southwest

Did you mean to say three Igbo and one Yoruba Okada men?

giantstrides:


Did you mean to say three Igbo and one Yoruba Okada men?

you r soo on point..I couldn't help but to laff wen I read his post....Nigerians r not as foolish as some pple think..I was in a village for INEC training few days ago and I heard an oldman in a gathering saying "those in of GEJ are blood thirsty pple jst like him (GEJ). You can imagine how many pple he(GEJ) and his pple hav killed and yet those that are benefitting from him wld say continue"...I was shocked to see no one disagreeing with him. This villagers refuse to be fooled by that opposition bullsh*t because according to one of them, "No one wld let go scot-free some one who wants to bring or put shame to ur governmnt"...

tima77:
OTUNBA Gani Adams is the National Coordinator of the Odua People’s Congress, OPC. In this

But most Yoruba are not ing Jonathan’s re-election bid, how do you see this development?



[b]Jonathan or Buhari who will you pick ?
Jonathan or Buhari who will you pick ?
We don’t need to deceive ourselves. The main group in Yorubaland, Afenifere has spoken; Afenifere the political arrowhead of Yoruba people has declared for Jonathan. Even Dr. Frederick Fasehun, the owner of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) has endorsed Jonathan, even before Afenifere. I don’t have problem with Buhari, but I have serious problem with the people that surround him. So in conclusion, 85 per cent of Lagosians want Jonathan.

.

APC knows this,hence they're hell bent on rigging

Gani we are not divided over any issue... Yorubas have decided whether Jonathan likes He should use Voodoo to turn Nigeria to USA in 6Weeks. We would still Vote Him OuT
#MarchGEJ2Otueke
#March4buhari

giantstrides:


Did you mean to say three Igbo and one Yoruba Okada men?

I doubt if they could complete a sentence in another language diff from Yoruba.

Gani the shady contract awarded to you & your ilks will be revoke when the General takes over.

Promhize:


I doubt if they could complete a sentence in another language diff from Yoruba.

At least yoruba's don't denigrate their language at the expense of other languages, unlike some other people I know of... Do you really wanna go down the tribal road?