Encomium
Leader of Yoruba socio-cultural group, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams rejoiced with Christian faithful as he staged a Christmas Carol at All Seasons Event Centre, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, December 23, 2015.
In this interview with ENCOMIUM Weekly the seasoned grassroots mobilizer gave reasons he staged the show in honour of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the first time seeing the leader of OPC organizing Christmas Carol. What informed this?
It is a reflection of being liberal in religion, given recognition to the three main religions in Nigeria. It may interest you to know that my background reflects Christianity. What we are doing today is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, which is known by everybody.
I have many friends who are pastors and imams. Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) is not a religious organization. We give recognition to the three main religions in Nigeria and so we pray to God through the doctrine of the three religions.
Based on this fact, when my Christian friends approached me to end the year with a Christmas carol, I quickly bought the idea. All that you are seeing were planned in three days. I believe next year Christmas Carol will be more organized than this.
Now, what is your message to Nigerians?
I think today is a day of reflection. It is a day God gave us His begotten son to come and establish Christianity and create a means of communicating with God. Christmas is period we need to show love, be of good behavior and to be broad-minded about the religion.
When you talk about being liberal, would you do the same to other religions in Nigeria?
I’m a Christian by birth and also a leader. And in Yoruba land, a leader must not give preference to one religion over another. Do not be surprised we do similar thing during the Ramadan period.
-DAPO ADESEKO
