President Bola Tinubu has urged political office holders across Nigeria to commit to transparency, uphold core democratic values, and focus heavily on people-oriented leadership, emphasizing that governance is a sacred trust meant exclusively for the well-being of the masses.
Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, gave the charge on Wednesday at the third Lam Adesina Annual Lecture Series (LAALS 2026), held in honour of the late former Oyo State governor in Ibadan.
The lecture, themed, “Shaping the Future of Oyo State: The Nexus Between History, Progressive Politics and Development,” was delivered by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ahmed Raji.
The President said the annual lecture provided an opportunity for political leaders, scholars and civic stakeholders to reflect on Nigeria’s democratic heritage, draw lessons from history and identify common ground for national development.
He commended the organisers for sustaining a platform that brings together people across political divides, describing it as an opportunity to agree on the way forward and test ideas against historical evidence.
Tinubu said Lam Adesina’s political philosophy was rooted in the progressive ideals of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, particularly the belief that government must expand opportunities and improve citizens’ living conditions.
According to him, the late governor believed social justice meant giving every child a fair chance to learn and every family the means to live with dignity.
He added that Adesina believed democracy should guarantee citizens a voice in decisions affecting their lives, stressing that public office was a trust and leadership must remain connected to the people.
Delivering the lecture, Raji called for ideology-driven politics, policy continuity and accountability, warning that internal political divisions, personality clashes and poor policy implementation continued to undermine Nigeria’s development.
He argued that the country’s challenge was not a shortage of development ideas but the inability to execute policies, sustain programmes and hold public officials accountable.
“Ideas are not our problem. Our problem is the discipline to complete what we begin and the humility to continue what another person started,” he said.
Raji cited the introduction of free primary education in the old Western Region in January 1955 under Awolowo as an example of how purposeful leadership and investment in human capital could transform society.
He said the policy remained an enduring reference point because it transformed families’ fortunes and established a standard against which successive governments were judged.
Raji also stressed the need to provide practical support for farmers, saying they needed “a buyer, a road, and a fair price” rather than political speeches.
He proposed five commitments for political leaders, including shared policy platforms, prioritisation of education, infrastructure and agriculture, effective monitoring of government programmes, consultation across political and geographical divides, and mutual accountability.
He warned that “a movement that can’t correct itself will be corrected by its opponents.”
Also speaking, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli, congratulated the Lam Adesina family and the foundation for sustaining the late governor’s legacy.
Alli described Lam Adesina as an embodiment of progressivism, patriotism and democracy, recalling the former governor’s support for him during his political journey, particularly in the 2011 election.
He pledged to implement the promises contained in his recently unveiled manifesto, expressing confidence that the late governor would have endorsed its development-oriented agenda.
Speaking on behalf of the family, former member of the House of Representatives for Ibadan North East/South East Federal Constituency, Dapo Lam-Adesina, identified his father’s integrity as one of his most enduring legacies.
He urged contemporary politicians to embrace the values that guided the late governor’s public life.
Dapo also called for stronger ideological foundations in political parties, recalling that the Action Group, Unity Party of Nigeria, Social Democratic Party and Alliance for Democracy had identifiable programmes covering education, healthcare, agriculture and rural development.
He said political parties must clearly communicate their programmes to enable elected leaders translate campaign promises into policies.
He thanked President Tinubu for consistently identifying with the annual lecture through representatives and reaffirmed the family’s commitment to contributing to the development of their political party.
Lam Adesina governed Oyo State from 1999 to 2003.
What You Should Know
This news centers on President Bola Tinubu’s recent call for ethical leadership and accountability among Nigerian politicians, delivered during an annual lecture series honoring late former Oyo State governor Lam Adesina in Ibadan. Speakers at the event stressed the importance of policy continuity, ideological politics, and fulfilling campaign promises to foster national growth.
- Positive Impact: Reminds leaders of their duty to citizens, potentially driving better execution of public infrastructure, education, and agricultural support programs.
- Potential Concerns: Highlights recurring challenges in Nigeria regarding the lack of discipline in completing predecessor projects and the absence of strict accountability for public officials.
