President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to embrace courage, resilience, and the politics of cooperation exemplified by the late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, urging citizens to reject bitterness, acrimony, and divisive tendencies in national life.
The President made the appeal through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who represented him at the 2026 Samuel Akintola Memorial Lecture and 60th remembrance of the former Premier of Western Nigeria, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour, President Tinubu described the lecture, themed “Unity in Diversity: Lessons from Chief Ladoke Akintola’s Legacy,” as a fitting tribute to a nationalist whose life and sacrifice remain central to Nigeria’s historical journey.
“Chief Akintola, like other leaders of Nigeria’s formative years, paid the ultimate price so that the nation could realise its full potential,” the President said.
He recalled the January 15, 1966 military coup that claimed the lives of key national figures and plunged the country into a turbulent chapter.
He reassured Nigerians that despite prevailing socio-economic challenges, his administration was committed to building on the foundations laid by Akintola and other national heroes through reforms and policies aimed at sustainable and inclusive prosperity.
He encouraged patience, emphasising that government initiatives are designed to secure a stable and brighter future.
Reflecting on Akintola’s life, President Tinubu highlighted his multifaceted legacy—as teacher, journalist, legal practitioner, politician, federal minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland—noting his contributions to institutions such as University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria Airways, and the University of Ife, Ile-Ife.
“Beyond public office, Akintola’s greatest legacy lay in his advocacy for bridge-building politics, consensus over conflict, and national unity over regional isolation,” he added, praising his commitment to equitable resource distribution and alignment with the national mainstream.
The President 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, stressing that their sacrifices underscore the dangers of disunity and intolerance.
Highlighting Nigeria’s diversity as a source of strength, President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive development, citing the creation of Regional Development Commissions across six geopolitical zones and investments in human capital, including interest-free loans to over 600,000 students through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Addressing the South-West region, he acknowledged its contributions to national development and assured continued responsiveness to its aspirations in governance, infrastructure, economic growth, and cultural preservation.
President Tinubu urged Nigerians to draw inspiration from Chief Akintola’s patriotism and bridge-building philosophy, stressing that remembrance of past tragedies should heal, not reopen wounds, through renewed commitment to national unity.
