Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has asserted that Nigeria’s federal system can only achieve the results envisioned by its founding fathers, specifically Chief Obafemi Awolowo, if the country’s leadership establishes a unified elite consensus. Speaking during the 2026 Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Lecture at the late sage’s residence in Ikenne, Ogun State, the governor argued that contemporary leaders have become too complacent compared to the disciplined, data-driven approach of the first Premier of the Western Region.
According to a statement from his media aide, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Makinde emphasized that his administration in Oyo State is actively modeling its governance after Awolowo’s core pillars of education, healthcare, and economic emancipation, while adding a modern focus on security. He noted that federalism remains the most appropriate structure for Nigeria’s diverse population, but its success depends on the ruling class prioritizing the welfare of the next generation over the outcome of the next election.
The governor warned that without a shared long-term vision, Nigeria risks falling into a cycle of stagnation similar to the decades of instability seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He contrasted this with Rwanda’s post-1994 transformation, suggesting that Nigeria must adopt a similar resolve to fix its internal systems if it hopes to change its current trajectory. Makinde insisted that an elite consensus—a unanimous agreement among leaders on national stability and policy direction—is the only way to prevent another century of the same challenges.
The lecture was attended by a distinguished group of stakeholders, including former Governors Gbenga Daniel and Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Isiaq Salako, and the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele. Other notable figures in attendance included the Executive Director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Ambassador Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, the event chairman Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe.
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