President Bola Tinubu has paid tribute to the late Obafemi Awolowo, describing him as a leader who rejected superficial governance and prioritized meaningful development.
Speaking at the 2026 Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Lecture in Ikenne, Ogun State, Tinubu said he draws inspiration from Awolowo’s political philosophy in shaping his administration. He was represented by the Minister of State for Health and Social Development, Ishaq Salako.
Salako said many of Tinubu’s reforms reflect Awolowo’s legacy of vision, courage, and focus on infrastructure.
“Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo demonstrated that to go beyond cosmetic impact and profoundly change development, we need leaders who are courageous, focused, and visionary”, he said.
Salako added that the administration’s reforms had “pulled Nigeria from the precipice of bankruptcy and fiscal collapse” and called on Nigerians to sustain faith in the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Executive Director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, said the lecture is a platform for reflection on principled leadership, social justice, and nation-building, values embodied by her father.
Speaking further, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku, expressed concern about rising insecurity and the 2027 elections, stressing that international collaboration to tackle security challenges must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“The collaborative arrangement should continue to be mindful of respect for the sovereignty of Nigeria”, he said.
On his part, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, also called for greater transparency on the Electoral Act signed by Tinubu, urging INEC to make the document publicly available to ensure credible elections.
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