The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has refuted the allegations of assassination leveled against him, stating that a voice note circulating in connection with the claims has been distorted.
In a bid to set the record straight, Adams addressed the controversies surrounding the audio clip, cautioning against deliberate attempts to tarnish his reputation.
Recently, Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, and the Chief of Staff to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, threatened to take legal action against Adams for accusing them of plotting an assassination. In response to pre-action letters from their respective lawyers, Adams expressed his readiness to defend himself and protect his hard-earned name and the office he represents.
Adams, through his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, issued a statement titled “Don’t Take My Silence for Cowardice, Gani Adams Speaks on Alleged Defamation of Character,” dismissing the voice note as a concoction. He viewed the threat of lawsuits by Igboho and Ayinde as part of a larger conspiracy to discredit him. Adams emphasized his commitment to peace, which was initiated by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, but felt compelled to address the situation due to ongoing falsehoods.
In a rejoinder to Ayinde’s lawyer’s pre-action letter, written by his legal representatives, Oluwole Kehinde and Rosemary Thompson, Adams denied the contents and inferences drawn from the alleged audio clip. The letter clarified that the video clip was attributed to Chief Sunday Adeyemo and not Adams himself. It further highlighted that the remarks made in the clip were based on unconfirmed information, which Adams found difficult to believe and therefore did not share publicly. The letter emphasized that there was no malicious intent on Adams’ part regarding the alleged statement.
Adams asserted that his silence thus far was not a sign of cowardice but a result of initial interventions by prominent figures in Yorubaland. However, in light of the ongoing misrepresentations and attacks on his character, he deemed it necessary to speak out. Adams clarified that the audio clip in question was a distorted and disjointed part of a private conversation that took place in 2021 with a US-based individual, initiated by the latter to discuss reconciliation between Adams, Igboho, and others. He stressed that his statement regarding Igboho’s alleged involvement in the murder of Chief Bola Ige was not made in bad faith but as a response to the rumors, and it was purely a private conversation.
In addressing the matter concerning Tayo Ayinde, Adams made it clear that he referred to the information as a rumor that could not be substantiated or made public.
Adams concluded his statement by reiterating his commitment to upholding peace and ensuring that his name and reputation remain untarnished amidst the ongoing controversies.