The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) is a
Yoruba
The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...
nationalist
Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a group of people), Smith, Anthony. ''Nationalism: The ...
,
regionalist, and
vigilante
Vigilantism () is the act of preventing, investigating and punishing perceived offenses and crimes without Right, legal authority.
A vigilante (from Spanish, Italian and Portuguese “vigilante”, which means "sentinel" or "watcher") is a pers ...
organization in
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
.
It is also known as the Oodua Liberation Movement (OLM) or the Revolutionary Council of Nigeria. It is based in southwestern Nigeria and has grassroots support within the Yoruba ethnic community.
History
The Oodua Peoples Congress was formed by a group of Yoruba elites and artisans which included Dr.
Fredrick Fasehun (its first national leader), Aare
Gani Adams
Chief Ganiyu Adams , popularly known as Gani Adams (born April 30, 1970), is a Nigerian activist, politician, traditional aristocrat and the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland.
Early life
Gani Adams was born on April 30, 1970, at Arigidi-Akoko ...
(the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land), Ibrahim Atanda, Idowu Abobanawo, Mrs. Adebowale (Maman Ijebu), Olumide Adeniji, Tony Ugurube of Ijaw,
Opeyemi Bamidele, Hon.
Kayode Oladele, Baba Oluwide Omojola, Baba Oja, Bola Aidi, Olubunmi Olusona, and Wole Adebayo among others.
They decided to form an organization to actualize the annulled mandate of Chief
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola , also known as M. K. O. Abiola (24 August 1937 – 7 July 1998) was a Nigerian businessman, publisher, and politician. He was the Aare Ona Kankafo XIV of Yorubaland and an aristocrat of the Egba clan.
M.K.O ...
, a Yoruba who most people believed to be on his way to winning the presidential election of 12 June 1993, which was subsequently annulled by the military government before vote tallying was complete.
Although the founding president of the OPC was
Frederick Fasehun
Frederick Isiotan Fasehun ( yo, Frederick Ìsìòtán Fáàséhùn; 21 September 1935 – 1 December 2018) was a Nigerian medical doctor, hotel owner and leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC).
Education and medical career
He studied science ...
, in 1999 a faction led by
Gani Adams
Chief Ganiyu Adams , popularly known as Gani Adams (born April 30, 1970), is a Nigerian activist, politician, traditional aristocrat and the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland.
Early life
Gani Adams was born on April 30, 1970, at Arigidi-Akoko ...
broke off from the main organization, but continued usage of the main party's name. Until his death in 2018, Fasehun was widely held by the Yoruba to be the leader of the OPC. He bestowed Ganiu Adams with the title of the National Coordinator in other to bring the factions under one body, while he remained its president and founding father.
In December 1999, the newly formed
Arewa People's Congress
The Arewa People's Congress (APC) is a group in Northern Nigeria established to protect the interests of the people of Northern extraction. It has been described as a militant wing of the Arewa Consultative Forum.
The group was formally launched on ...
said it would begin full self-defense training for northern residents in reaction to attacks on
Hausas by the OPC.
After Fasehun's death, Oodua People's Congress the factions continued and the Fasheun faction elected a new leader, Prince Oshibote. This was in line with Fasehun's wishes before he died.
See also
*
Ohanaeze Ndigbo
Ohanaeze Ndigbo is an Igbo socio-cultural organization in Nigeria. The group aims to represent the interests of all Igbo communities within and outside Nigeria.
Although the group is not a political party, one of its main objectives is to foste ...
*
Chief John Nnia Nwodo
Chief John Nnia Nwodo is a Nigerians, Nigerian lawyer, economist, and minister. He serves as 9th President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Early life and education
Nwodo, the third-born male child of his family, was born in 1952 in Enugu State, ...
References
External links
Globalsecurity.org - Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Oodua Liberation Movement (OLM), Revolutionary Council of Nigeria (RCN)Yoruba Country*
ttp://www.humanrights.de/doc_en/countries/nigeria/discuss_video.html Humanrights.de - Video recording of the discussion between Kayode Ogundamisi, Dr. Anthony Edeh and Ulrike Bendrat 30 June 2003- requires RealPlayer
Yoruba politics
Rebel groups in Nigeria
Political parties in Nigeria
{{Nigeria-party-stub