Gani Adams, national coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), says he would not die young as he assumes the role of Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland.
He said not all those who held the position in the past had died young, dismissing it as superstitious belief.
Adams was on Sunday installed as the 15th Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yorubaland by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.
The position had been left vacant since the death of Moshood Abiola in 1998.
“Let me say that death belongs to God. Only God can decide and determine when anyone can die and until God decides, I will not die young as the defender of my people,” Adams said while speaking to journalists on Saturday in Lagos.
“Aare title is highly spiritual and I have handed over my destiny and tenure to God.
“The position in the past meant that you have to continually fight wars to protect your people, and may be killed in the process, but that was before Nigeria became a sovereign nation.
“The job in the modern era is limited in terms of physical defense because there are security apparatus to settle disputes.
“However, it has become a position to unify the Yoruba race, defend their interest and believe in their cause.”