The Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has said that there are unseen evil spirits dwelling in the minds of some Nigeria politicians, which give them the audacity to believe they can mortgage the future of Nigerians and get away with it.

He made this assertion on Tuesday while delivering a speech at the 2022 Eledumare Festival organised by the Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF), held at Fagba area in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos.

Adams noted that the South-West has come a long way in her search for selfless servant-leader, which the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo epitomised, just as he explained that the quality of service exhibited by the late sage in the 60s as premier of the Western region has remained an enduring model till date.

He further explained that the late Awolowo’s philosophy of service has truly raised the bar in public service, leaving a huge gap that seems very difficult for the present crop of politicians in the South-West to fill.

He lamented a situation whereby the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), under the leadership of Godwin Emefiele would lay claim to renovating the National Arts Theatre at a total sum of 100million dollars.

“How much was used to build this monument in the first place? They are not building a new one but they are only renovating it and they said the renovation will cost 100 million dollars. This is very worrisome and I am afraid.

The Aareonakakanfo also raised concern over the level of the country’s debt profile which is said to be running into 50 trillion naira, even as he recalled that there was no oil during Awolowo’s time, which he said was a pleasant period for. Nigerians.

He alleged that some people were being hired to track his vioice, but said he was not afraid, adding that, “If we say the truth, we will die, if we don’t say it, we will die as well.”

He also quickly called the attention to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s reaction to the rot in the society, saying for Adeboye to voice out his concern on the state of the country, a man he said was never known for public outburst, shows that the sufferings had spread to the nooks and crannies in the country.

The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) National Coordinator, however, noted that in Nigeria’s history, the Western region was reputed to be the leading region in national politics and development.

He stated further that the Awolowo’s government also created the needed synergy and model for national development.

“But today, the leaders, especially, politicians in the South-West didn’t have the capacity to reinvent the glorious moments of the Western region.

“They are either too powerful or too weak to be the selfless, servant- leader like the late Awo. Many of them are also detached from the people they serve or lead.

“For example,since 1999 when the so called nascent democracy began,strange thinking and ideologies have become the lot of the politicians. The politicians become moneybags overnight and monetize their ways into elective positions

“This was not the practice during the Awolowo’s years. In the past, you cannot buy the electorate, no matter the amount of money you put on the table. You can not buy their conscience and mortgage their future.

“The Yoruba of those years are very articulate.You cannot deceive them twice. Yoruba of those years have their orientation and they believe in what you are able to put on the table in terms of programme or manifestoes.

“They can only give you their votes when they are sure that their future is well secured and guaranteed.

“The four cardinal areas of interest to them include free health, free education, infrastructure and social welfare as well as their well being.

“But at this stage of our political lives, things have changed. We have politicians who are driven by deceit and lies. There are some unseen evil spirits that dwell in their minds.

“This unseen evil spirits give them the audacity to believe that they can mortgage our future and get away with it.

“However, at this juncture, I think there is need for us to pray and seek the face of God, Eledumare to consecrate their minds and rid them of unseen, evil spirits and machinations.

“Therefore, in solving the leadership questions, our leaders, political office holders including governors, traditional rulers, as well as religious leaders must identify with the people at the grassroots.

“They must be ready to operate a model that is centred on the well-being of the people and not for self aggrandizements as we see today.

“Good leaders all over the world are servant leaders. They are not liars. They know quite well that lying and stealing reduce a man to nothing,” Adams added. (Daily Independent)

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