President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Nigerians to imbibe the enduring values of courage, resilience, unity and the politics of cooperation exemplified by the late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, while rejecting bitterness, acrimony and divisive tendencies in national life.
The President made the call through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who represented him at the 2026 Samuel Akintola Memorial Lecture and the 60th Remembrance of the former Premier of Western Nigeria, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
President Tinubu, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, described the memorial lecture, themed “Unity in Diversity: Lessons from Chief Ladoke Akintola’s Legacy,” as a fitting tribute to one of Nigeria’s foremost nationalists whose life and sacrifice remain central to the country’s historical journey.
According to the President, Chief Akintola, like several leaders of Nigeria’s formative years, paid the ultimate price so that the nation could realise its full potential. He recalled that the January 15, 1966 military coup cut short the lives of many national leaders and plunged the country into a difficult chapter, but stressed that Nigeria has endured and will continue to prevail as one indivisible nation.
He reassured Nigerians that despite prevailing socio-economic challenges, his administration remains committed to building on the foundations laid by Akintola and other national heroes through reforms, policies and people-oriented initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable and inclusive prosperity.
The President urged citizens to exercise patience as ongoing reforms begin to yield positive results, emphasising that government policies are designed not to inflict hardship but to secure a brighter and more stable future for all Nigerians.
Reflecting on Akintola’s life, President Tinubu described him as a man of many talents—teacher, journalist, legal mind and passionate politician—who rose from humble beginnings in Ogbomoso to national prominence as the first Premier of the Western Region in post-independence Nigeria.
He highlighted Akintola’s service as a federal minister, the first Leader of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament and Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, as well as his contributions to institutions such as the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria Airways and the University of Ife, Ile-Ife.
Beyond public office, the President said Akintola’s greatest legacy lay in his ideals, particularly his advocacy of bridge-building politics that emphasised consensus over conflict and national unity over regional isolation. He noted that Akintola consistently championed equitable distribution of national resources and alignment with the national mainstream.
President Tinubu also paid tribute to other patriots who lost their lives during the 1966 coup, including Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, saying their sacrifices underscore the dangers of disunity and intolerance.
Describing Nigeria as a nation of diverse peoples, languages and faiths, the President stressed that diversity must be harnessed as a source of strength, affirming that unity in diversity remains the only viable path to peace and progress.
He highlighted the establishment of Regional Development Commissions across the six geopolitical zones as part of efforts to promote inclusive development and decentralise growth, noting that the initiative reflects Akintola’s philosophy of fairness, equity and shared prosperity.
The President also underscored the importance of human capital development, particularly education, citing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which he said has enabled over 600,000 students to access interest-free loans for higher education.
Addressing the people of the South-West, President Tinubu acknowledged the region’s contributions to national development and assured that his administration remains responsive to its aspirations in governance, infrastructure, economic growth and cultural preservation.
He urged Nigerians to draw inspiration from Chief Ladoke Akintola’s legacy of patriotism and bridge-building, stressing that remembrance of past tragedies should heal, not reopen wounds, through renewed commitment to national unity.
By Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
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