• Calls for collective efforts to reclaim nation
From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has said the country needs leaders like President Bola Tinubu to achieve the Nigeria of our dreams.
The former Rivers State governor, who stated this in his 2025 Distinguish Personality Lecture, titled, “The Nigeria of our Dreams” presented at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, yesterday, pointed out that the greatest challenge confronting Nigeria and militating against its development was the plague of bad leadership.
He agreed with Chinua Achebe, whose seminar, ‘The trouble with Nigeria,’ graphically captures the challenge, when he stated that ‘the trouble with Nigeria is fairly and squarely the absence of proper leadership.’
Acording to Wike, “this statement, damaging as it may appear, is extremely difficult to controvert. Our leaders have, in the main, emerged through self-serving conspiracies that have little or nothing to do with national interests and development. This has been the case in both military and civilian contexts.”
He explained that Nigeria needs a leader that is prepared to lead with sound character and resilience in the face of challenges. He said Tinubu has stand out as the leader the people need to drive Nigeria to progress and prosperity.
This leader, he said, must have the courage and audacity to act, build, innovate and generally expand the frontiers of development with a hands-on approach that would emphasise excellence over mediocrity.
He added that more importantly, the leader of Nigerians’ dream must create a society of free and responsible citizens, whose potentials flow freely and free enterprise thrives.
He expressed displeasure that Nigeria’s glory is often dimmed by the failures of those entrusted with power, and by a followership that has too often become passive and called on government at all levels and the citizens to join hands in reclaiming Nigeria’s dream.
“Reclaiming Nigeria’s dream demands a rekindling of vision and values. We must reimagine the country not as victims of its history, but as architects of its destiny. We must rebuild trust between government and the governed, among ethnic nationalities, across faiths and generations. We must rediscover the dignity of labour, the sanctity of truth and the strength of unity. Most of all, we must believe again that our country, however flawed, is not beyond redemption.
“This work belongs to all of us. No one is too small or too big to fail. Nigeria’s redemption will not be delivered by heroes on horseback, but by ordinary citizens doing extraordinary things: living with integrity, speaking truth to power, raising children with values and holding firm to hope even when the night is long. The dream is not dead. It merely sleeps, waiting for those bold enough, brave enough and burdened enough to awaken it.”
He noted that President Bola Tinubu has shown in several ways and at different times, a stout commitment to the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria, to the extent of even putting his own life on the line in the process.
“He has shown great capacity for engendering development as captured in the unprecedentedly rapid and exponential development of Lagos state under his watch and even beyond.
He said Tinubu has demonstrated a rare courage by removing fuel subsidies on his first day, upon being sworn in as President. According to him, leaders before him all spoke about the evil of fuel subsidy, but none had the courage to dare the blackmail of removing it.
“On his first day, upon being sworn in as President, he demonstrated rare courage by removing the hydra-headed fuel subsidy that was impoverishing generations of Nigerians and binding them into avoidable and perennial debt. Leaders before him all spoke about the evil of fuel subsidy, but none had the courage to dare the blackmail of removing it. Tinubu did and is fittingly grappling with the inevitable, unintended and sometimes orchestrated consequences of this removal.
“Today, our states have far more resources to develop, the debts are no longer piling and the price of petrol is gradually but steadily adjusting downwards in tandem with the forces of demand and supply and the strict implementation of regulatory conditionalities.
“The overwhelming cry of over-centralisation of power and resources at the national level and the attendant abuse of the doctrine of federalism is being systematically addressed through the creation of zonal/regional commissions empowered to devolve developmental impetus to the respective zones and regions, so that power can truly return to the people.
“The security situation is being addressed through proper funding and the training and retraining of our army and other security forces. There is no doubt that with the recent presidential approval for the recruitment of forest guards across the country to take charge of our forests, bandits and terrorists would no longer find incubation points and free territories to operate. Put simply, the era of banditry and terrorism would soon come to an end. These and many other policies and measures are being put together by the President to reposition our country on the path of progress and development,” Wike said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Obafemi Awolowo university (OAU) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, commended President Tinubu for his interventions aimed at reshaping and repositioning higher education in Nigeria, especially in creating an environment conducive to learning, innovation and development.
Earlier, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun described Wike as a straightforward politician, adding that his wealth of political experience and leadership style was exemplary.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi, Adeleke said the minister’s infrastructural transformation in the FCT was visionary.
Also, the Vice-Chancellor of the university Prof Bamire, said that the theme of the lecture, ‘’Nigeria of our Dream” was timely and thought-provoking.
“At a critical juncture when our nation’s democratic journey, when the challenges of governance, civic trust and equitable development are at the forefront of public discourse, this lecture offers a vital platform for reflection, engagement and forward thinking.
“It calls us to interrogate the structures that uphold democracy, the principles that guide responsible governance, citizenship and the strategies that can unlock Nigeria’s development potential,” he said.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, said he has deep respect for Wike because of his fearlessness.
He described the minister as an “upright politician who said things as they are. “Hate him; like him, what will be will be.”
Also, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Prof. Siyan Oyeweso, thanked the minister for honouring the invitation of the university, noting that he was specifically chosen for the lecture for his boldness in speaking the truth every time.