Hundreds of wives and children of deceased members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) have received material support from the organisation in Lagos.
The beneficiaries gathered at the Oodua House in Ikeja for the 2025 Heroes and Heroines Day, organised by the OPC to honour its fallen members. They went home with cash gifts, food items and clothing.
Leader of the OPC and Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, thanked God for preserving the lives of those present to witness another edition of the yearly commemoration.
Adams, represented by the National Administrative Secretary of the OPC and Baarejiroro Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Dauda Asikolaiye, pledged that the organisation would continue to support the families left behind by its departed members, assuring them that they would not be forgotten.
He emphasised the importance of celebrating members who died in active service, noting that the Heroes and Heroines Day was set aside to honour those who fought various struggles for the Yoruba race and Nigeria and lost their lives in the process.
He prayed for the continued repose of their souls and for divine support for their wives, children and other family members.
In his address, the Publicity Secretary of the OPC, Yinka Oguntimehin, said that the benefits enjoyed by many members today were made possible by the sacrifices of the heroes and heroines being celebrated.
“The efforts and labour of our heroes are highly significant to the realisation of democracy in Nigeria and contributed greatly to the respect still being accorded to the Yoruba people today,” he said.
“Many of our heroes being honoured today participated in the June 12 struggle against the military and fought for the democracy Nigerians are all enjoying today,” he added.
Oguntimehin urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the monetary and material support received, assuring them that the OPC would not abandon them. He also prayed for the children of the deceased members to become great and live long in good health.
Prayers for good health, long life and divine protection were later offered by Christian, Muslim and traditional clerics for the deceased, their families and all members of the organisation.
