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TEN YEARS AFTER LAMIDI ADEDIBU

Published

8 years ago

July 2, 2018

Sahara Weekly

BY REUBEN ABATI.

It has been ten years since the self-styled “strong man of Ibadan politics”, Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Akanji Adedibu, died. He died on June 11, 2008. I do not recall seeing many tributes or advertisements in the newspapers or other media commemorating his life and legacy. There was no public lecture or any important statements from those who were his protégés. That this is so is a useful lesson to today’s political Godfathers and henchmen in Nigerian politics who behave as if history has already assigned to them an immortal space on its pages.

Lamidi Adedibu was a colossal presence in the politics of Ibadan, and Oyo state for more than 50 years. Ibadan has a tradition of colourful politicians who wielded enormous influence: Adegoke Adelabu, the brilliant orator and intellectually gifted personality who authored “Africa in Ebullition”, and whose use of the phrase “peculiar mess” got transliterated by his illiterate audience as “penkelemesi”; Chief Mojeed Mobolanle Agbaje, the first Ibadan man to become a lawyer, and son of Alhaji Salami Agbaje of Ayeye, Ibadan who was the richest man in Ibadan in his time and the first to ride a car (1915) and build a house with cement; Chief Meredith Adisa Akinloye, an alumnus of the London School of Economics (LSE), founder of the Ibadan People’s Party (IPP), Chairman of Ibadan City Council and in the Second Republic, Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN); and Alhaji Busari Adelakun, the “Eruobodo” (“the river fears no one”) of Ibadan politics. There is hardly any other Ibadan indigene apart from these gentlemen who has been more influential in shaping the tone and shape of Ibadan politics and by extension, the politics of Oyo state. Local Ibadan politics is a combination of thuggery, populism, inconsistency, clientelism and intellectual opportunism, with service to the people thrown in as a lower measure.

Lamidi Adedibu lacked the intellectual gifts of Adelabu, Agbaje, and Akinloye, or the oratory of Adelabu – he was much closer to Busari Adelakun, who was his mentor. In an instructive book titled “What I saw in the Politics of Ibadanland”, Adedibu has already given his own eye-witness account from his beginning days with the Ibadan People’s Party and the Action Group, later the the National Party of Nigeria during the Second Republic, but he truly came into his own as the main Godfather of Ibadan politics with the ascendancy of the People’s Democratic Party in 1999 and especially in 2003 when he was recruited by President Olusegun Obasanjo for his second term bid. He filled the vacuum created by the exit of Alhaji Busari Adelakun, and in that aspect, he established himself as a master of the game using violence, mass appeal, and philanthropy to determine political outcomes. During the Second Republic, Alhaji Busari Adelakun was credited with having helped Chief Bola Ige of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) to become Governor.

The main task of that branch of Ibadan politics represented by Adelakun and his followers, was to help deliver the votes, by any means possible. Adelakun would go from one polling booth to the other, and ensure that his clients won the vote. He was later rewarded with the position of a Commissioner (first Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and later, Health) in the Bola Ige government. Both men would soon fall out, and Busari Adelakun resigned in anger. He famously swore that nobody could ever occupy a position that he, Adelakun, left in anger. It then happened that his immediate successor in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy died in the hands of his own sibling. He was beheaded. Adelakun’s successor in the Ministry of Health also suffered stroke. He on account of this became a mythical figure. He would later defect to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) with the threat that he would get Bola Ige removed as Governor. He supported Chief Victor Omololu Olunloyo who eventually became Governor. His word came to pass. But the Olunloyo government was short-lived. General Buhari struck in December 1983 and Adelakun and other NPN chieftains were herded into detention. He took ill in jail and died subsequently.

It was Lamidi Adedibu who sustained this tradition of prominent Ibadan politicians playing the role of the Godfather, and masters of the politics of clientelism. Unlike Adelakun, he didn’t have to follow the able-bodied boys, masquerading as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), who snatched ballot boxes in those days and stuffed them. He had the entire city under his control in a manner nobody else before him did. Every major thug in the town reported to him, and he used them against the opponents, but he also at the same time took very good care of the ordinary people who delivered the votes to ensure victory for his clients and friends. Lamidi Adedibu, with the failure of the Alliance for Democracy in the 2003 election in Oyo state, became effectively the most influential politician in Ibadan politics, Oyo state politics, and one of the leading lights of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He held court and juggled the balls from his extensive home in Molete, Ibadan. That was where he held court. He was Ashipa Olubadan but he had his own palace – where he decided the political fortunes of politicians who came to him for help, or persons seeking political appointments. It was not for nothing that he was known as “Alaafin of Molete”.

His home was a palace unto itself. He was also the exponent of “Amala politics” – what is now known as the politics of stomach infrastructure. Every day, Adedibu kept his home open for the ordinary people of Ibadan. Whoever was hungry knew that if they went to Adedibu’s home, they would get a good plate of piping hot amala and a drink to wash it down. Ordinary people who could not pay school fees or hospital bills or rent went to him in his palace to ask for help. He supported them willingly. He was not a herdsman but he had a mini-ranch in his home, at any time, there were more than a dozen cows waiting to be slaughtered to feed the people, goats also, and rams and pigeons. Everyday in the Adedibu home was like a festival. He reportedly kept more than 100 vehicles, to be mobilized at short notice to pursue any political cause. The whole of Ibadan city came to regard Adedibu as the real government: he ran a government of his own. It wasn’t long before he became a national figure of real importance.

Prominent politicians visited him at home, and as they did, they brought bags of money, which in any case, Adedibu shared to the electorate. The politicians who took him as their Godfather expected him to help them deliver the votes on election day and the people who went to his house to eat and collect money waited on him to tell them how they should vote in every election. He would soon become so influential that the then Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali described him at a point, as the “garrison commander of Ibadan politics.” President Olusegun Obasanjo also visited him at home once, welcomed by a cavalcade of drums and pageantry, and he ended up describing him as the “father of the PDP”. Even politicians from other parts of the country who may not have needed him in their own constituencies, patronized him all the same. In his own immediate political constituency, his boys did as they wished. They unleashed violence on political opponents while the state authorities looked the other way. Adedibu was above the law. He was the ultimate Godfather. He once quipped: “…Let me tell you, constitution or law, that is for you men. God has his own law.” There was no one like that before him, and there has been no other like that after him. He projected himself as a Robin Hood, but he didn’t really like the poor, he used them for his own relevance.

In 2003, he had reportedly helped to install Senator Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja as Governor of Oyo State. He himself said so. That is what people like him do – they would help to install a client in a position of political authority. They would then afterwards collect rent in form of cash and appointive positions and exercise influence over public policy. Adedibu and Ladoja soon fell out. Adedibu told the public that he had a prior agreement with Ladoja that he must pay to him, every month, 50% of the state’s security vote, which was at the time about N30 million. Ladoja reneged, insisting that the security vote was meant for security. The Godfather became angry – he retorted that he was the main security of the state and did Ladoja realize that money was spent to get him into office? He swore to get Ladoja removed. And indeed he did. Eighteen out of the 32 members of the state House of Assembly, acting on Adedibu’s instructions, met and impeached Ladoja. His Deputy who was also an Adedibu protégé was immediately installed as Governor. After taking the oath of office, one of Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala’s first assignments was to go straight to Adedibu’s home to pay homage. He went down on all fours to say “thank you.” Ladoja would later be reinstated by court order 11 months later, but the Godfather had made his point.

The kind of influence that the likes of Lamidi Adedibu wielded is a metaphor for the character and level of Nigerian politics. Godfathers still exist in today’s politics and the new Godfathers are just as messianic and as arrogant as their predecessors were. Violence also remains an instrument of persuasion and enforcement, even if since Adedibu’s exit, the level of violence in Ibadan politics has progressively reduced, across the country, many politicians routinely patronize thugs and enforcers. “Amala politics” still exists in form of “stomach infrastructure” – even when some politicians do not turn their homes into a public kitchen and abattoir, they patronize the people by bribing them with motorcycles or boreholes. In Benue state, Governor Samuel Ortom distributed wheel barrows with the inscription: “Gov. Ortom for you”. In another state, a serving APC Senator donated an electric pole to a community as constituency project and took photographs, in Kano state, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje bought noodles, eggs, and beverages to empower tea hawkers. Now that we are in an election season, some other politicians will distribute cooked food, bags of rice or photograph themselves eating at amala joints or buying roasted corn by the roadside.

Our politicians have learnt to exploit the people’s poverty. Political Godfathers capitalize on this and turn it into a strategy. When the people are rescued from the poverty trap, they would be less susceptible to the greed and exploitation of politicians. Institutions also have to be built and strengthened to check the menace of Godfathers and their boys who decide electoral choices on the people’s behalf and by so doing, frustrate democratic expression.

As a human being, Adedibu was obviously a strong grassroots mobiliser. He was also a strong religious and community leader – he built 18 mosques – but his legacy of stomach infrastructure and political manipulation cannot endure in the long run. One week after his burial, his political acolytes returned hoping that his family will sustain the feast. They were turned back. The pots and pans used for cooking had been packed aside. Over 90 mattresses used by the army of boys that thronged the “palace” had been packed together in a heap to be disposed off. The amala-seeking crowd went over to the home of Alhaji Azeez Arisekola-Alao, an Ibadan politician and entrepreneur, hoping he would provide “amala”. Arisekola was a prominent philanthropist but he wasn’t running a public kitchen in his home. One of Adedibu’s sons, ended up in politics and became a Senator, but he did not follow in his father’s footsteps. Another son reportedly described the late politician as a “dishonest politician.”

Today, the Molete palace is desolate. The in-house ranch has disappeared. The Nigerian electorate, should be reminded that when a politician offers them food in exchange for their votes, that food will soon digest and end up in the toilet, and you’d need to eat again. When the politician dies, or leaves politics or no longer needs you, you’d still have to eat. It is better always to vote wisely and focus on the need to build and strengthen public institutions for the people’s benenfits.

By Reuben Abati

Related Topics:coverstory lamidi adedibu politics Reuben Abati

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Senator Adeola Yayi Bags Royal Blessings at Foundation Laying of Yewa Traditional Council Secretariat in Ilaro

Published

22 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Senator Adeola Yayi Bags Royal Blessings at Foundation Laying of Yewa Traditional Council Secretariat in Ilaro

…Clerics, Monarchs and Political Leaders Offer Prayers for His Future Aspirations

ILARO-YEWA, OGUN STATE — The ancient town of Ilaro, headquarters of Ogun West Senatorial District, came alive on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, as royal fathers, political leaders, clerics and community stakeholders gathered for the historic foundation-laying ceremony of the proposed ultra-modern Yewa Traditional Council (Obas’) Secretariat Complex.

The culturally symbolic project, facilitated by the Senator representing Ogun West at the National Assembly, Distinguished Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), attracted widespread commendation, fervent prayers and royal blessings from traditional rulers across Yewaland, alongside leaders and stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The ceremony officially marked the commencement of construction of what is envisioned as a state-of-the-art secretariat that will serve as the institutional headquarters of the Yewa Traditional Council.

Stakeholders described the initiative as a landmark achievement in institutional development and a clear demonstration of Senator Adeola’s sustained commitment to grassroots development, cultural preservation and inclusive governance in Yewaland.

Royal fathers present unanimously agreed that the project represents a significant step toward strengthening traditional governance and preserving Yewa cultural heritage. According to them, the proposed secretariat will function as a unifying administrative hub, enhance collaboration among monarchs and safeguard the cultural identity of the Yewa people for generations to come.

Speaking at the event, the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, His Royal Majesty Oba (Dr.) Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, Asade Agunloye IV, poured encomiums on Senator Adeola for his extensive infrastructural interventions and developmental footprints across Yewaland and Ogun State.

The monarch noted that the senator’s contributions have repositioned Yewaland on the path of meaningful progress, urging political leaders and stakeholders to embrace unity, cooperation and harmony.

He emphasized that such collective resolve remains crucial to the long-standing aspiration of producing a Yewa indigene as Governor of Ogun State in 2027.

Oba Olugbenle also used the occasion to encourage residents to actively participate in the democratic process by obtaining their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs), stressing that civic engagement is the surest route to credible leadership.

“Yayi Is a Unique Son of Yewaland” — Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Chief) Mrs. Lateefat Bolanle Ajayi, described Senator Adeola as a “unique and incomparable son of Yewaland,” whose influence transcends Ogun West to Ogun Central and East.

“We have had good sons in Yewaland, but Yayi stands out. His impact is felt in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode and beyond. Charity truly begins at home. Even the blind can see and the deaf can hear. We must support him. Come 2027, we have a candidate,” she declared.

Clerics Offer Prayers for Success

Offering prayers at the ceremony, Imam Mohammed Tijani Jamiu, Chief Imam of Surulere Central Mosque, Ilaro-Yewa, prayed for Senator Adeola, the royal fathers of Yewaland and the successful completion of the project.

Similarly, Imam Jamiu Adeniyi Kewulere, Chief Imam of Bibire Central Mosque, Oke-Ola, Ilaro-Yewa, also offered special prayers for peace, progress and divine guidance for all stakeholders.

“A Rare Project of Global Significance” — Yewa South LG Chairman

The Chairman of Yewa South Local Government, Hon. Tunde Ogunshola, described the occasion as one of the happiest moments of his life, noting that the project is unprecedented in scope and cultural significance

“This traditional council building is rare, even globally. It is being realized through the support of Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun and facilitated by Senator Adeola. When completed, it will stand as a lasting symbol of our heritage,” he said.

The Ogun State Chairman of Cultural Development, Hon. Olayiwola Taiwo, also hailed the project as a major turnaround for Ogun West, a zone he said had endured years of infrastructural neglect.

“This is a remarkable development. Senator Adeola is truly God-sent to Yewaland,” he stated.

Royal fathers including the Olofin Adimula of Ado-Odo, Oba Idris Olusola Lamidi Osolo, the Abepa of Joga-Orile, Oba Adeyemi Adekeye, and the Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite, all expressed confidence that greater projects linked to Senator Adeola would continue to materialize.

A retired Director-General in the Ogun State Civil Service, Mr. Michael Babatunde Ajayi, likened the proposed complex to the Obas’ Secretariat in Abeokuta, noting that it would reduce the need for monarchs in Yewaland to travel to the state capital for meetings.

“This will be the first of its kind in Yewaland. Kudos to Senator Adeola, whose impact is felt across Ogun State,” he said.

APC Leaders Call for Political Mobilisation

The Ogun West APC Chairman, Alhaji Azeez Adisa (Ekwume), alongside party leaders and community stakeholders, described Senator Adeola’s interventions as purposeful and impactful.

They urged party members to consolidate these gains by strengthening party structures and participating actively in voter registration and mop-up exercises, noting that broad-based participation is essential for electoral success.

Anglican Bishop Describes Project as Timely

Speaking with journalists, the Diocesan Bishop of the Anglican Communion, Rt. Revd. M.A. Oluwarohunbi, PhD, described the project as timely and symbolic, adding that it would enhance the role of traditional rulers in governance.

“This is a very important day in the history of Ilaro and Yewaland. The proposed complex will be an ultra-modern edifice befitting our royal fathers,” he said.

He also prayed for Senator Adeola’s continued strength and the realization of his future aspirations.

At the climax of the event, Oba Olugbenle, alongside other eminent kabiyesis, offered royal prayers and blessings for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, Senator Solomon Adeola Yayi, and other political office holders across Ogun West and Nigeria, seeking divine wisdom, protection and success in governance.

The well-attended ceremony drew a diverse audience, including revered monarchs from across Yewaland, political leaders, community stakeholders and religious representatives from Christianity, Islam and traditional institutions.

Members of the League of Yewa-Awori Media Practitioners (LOYAMP) were also prominently represented, led by their National Coordinator, Otunba AbuSatar Idowu Hamed.

The colourful event concluded with the formal laying of the foundation stone by royal fathers and distinguished guests, symbolically ushering in a new chapter in the institutional development and cultural renaissance of Yewaland—an occasion many described as another defining milestone in Senator Adeola Yayi’s growing legacy of service and development.

Courtesy: League of Yewa-Awori Media Practitioners (LOYAMP)

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Shadows of Greed: Alison‑Madueke’s UK Corruption Trial and the Cost of Power

Published

1 day ago

January 28, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Shadows of Greed: Alison‑Madueke’s UK Corruption Trial and the Cost of Power

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

When today’s headlines speak of corruption, they often do so as a distant abstraction as a vague moral failure with little bearing on everyday life. But the unfolding corruption trial of Diezani Alison‑Madueke in a London court throws into glaring relief the real, human and systemic consequences of unchecked power merged with self‑interest. This is not merely the story of an individual on trial; it is a lens through which the world must scrutinise the fragile intersection of governance, resource wealth and public trust.

Diezani Alison‑Madueke, once Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources and later the first woman president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), now stands accused before Britain’s Southwark Crown Court of multiple counts of bribery and conspiracy. The accusations against her (which she vehemently denies) paint a portrait of opulence allegedly funded through pay‑to‑play politics that ignored the public good and rewarded those who could feed her lavish lifestyle.

A Life in Oil, a Life Under Scrutiny.

Alison‑Madueke’s tenure as petroleum minister, from twenty ten until twenty fifteen, coincided with a period of immense oil revenue for Nigeria, a country sitting atop the largest oil reserves in Africa. Yet that wealth did not translate into broad‑based prosperity for the citizens she was meant to serve. Instead, British prosecutors allege that her privileged access to that sector was exploited for personal gain.

According to court indictments, she is accused of accepting bribes not in vague promises, but in concrete, high‑value luxury benefits and including cash, chauffeur‑driven vehicles, private jet travel, the use of multiple high‑end properties in London, funded renovations, personal household staff and even costly designer goods purchased at establishments like Harrods and Louis Vuitton. Prosecutors told the court these were not mere gifts, but “financial or other advantages” given by industry players “who clearly believed she would use her influence to favour them.”

The former minister, now sixty‑five, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Alongside her in the dock are two co‑defendants: oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, Doye Agama, both of whom deny the charges connected to the same alleged bribery scheme.

The Anatomy of Allegations.

What makes this trial especially significant is the detail and scale of the alleged benefits. Prosecutors have asserted that Alison‑Madueke was offered:

Access to luxury homes and private residences in London, bought and maintained by associates seeking lucrative Nigerian contracts.

At least a six‑figure sum in direct cash payments.

Private jet flights and schooling fees for her children.

Vast quantities of luxury goods and services from upscale retailers.

While the prosecution concedes it has not yet produced direct evidence that she awarded specific contracts to individuals who should not have had them, it maintains that the acceptance of such benefits by a public official who oversaw multi‑billion‑dollar contracts is inherently improper and contrary to fundamental principles of public service.

Voices of Accountability.

The allegations have drawn sharp commentary from observers worldwide who see the trial as emblematic of broader governance challenges across resource‑rich nations.

Nigerian social justice advocate Aisha Bello has observed, “Corruption is not a peripheral defect in governance but a corrosive disease that accelerates inequality. When leaders treat public office as a gateway to private treasure, citizens pay with lost opportunities and diminished hope.”

Similarly, Professor John Githongo, a renowned anti‑corruption scholar, argues that “Transparency and accountability are not optional extras in public administration; they are indispensable pillars of a just society. When the public good is subverted for private gain, the very fabric of trust unravels.”

These sentiments resonate deeply in contexts where natural wealth exists alongside persistent challenges in education, healthcare and infrastructure also illustrating that corruption is not an isolated moral failing, but a fundamental impediment to development.

Corruption Beyond Borders.

What makes this case notable on the global stage is not just its connection to a former minister, but its international footprint. The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has taken up the case because many of the alleged transactions (the properties, cash flows, and luxury perks) touched British jurisdiction. This underlines a critical truth: corruption today is not contained by national boundaries. Illicit financial flows, luxury goods, and asset holding often travel across continents, making international cooperation essential in pursuit of justice.

Andy Kelly, head of the NCA’s International Corruption Unit, stated during earlier proceedings that investigations revealed “financial rewards” accepted by Alison‑Madueke that were “suspected to relate to the awarding of multi‑million‑pound contracts.” He emphasised that such impropriety has “devastating consequences for developing nations.”

This collaborative legal action reflects a growing global consensus: no public official, regardless of stature, should be beyond accountability. When a former head of state institutions is brought before a foreign court, it is not just a legal milestone but it is a moral affirmation of shared values in the rule of law.

The Nigerian Context.

In Nigeria, the oil sector has long been both a blessing and a burden. Despite generating huge revenues, mismanagement and corruption have often undermined potential gains for the wider population. A 2023 report by Nigeria’s statistics agency ranked corruption as one of the most significant challenges facing the country. It is a sobering backdrop that shapes how this trial is interpreted at home and abroad.

Former officials and critics alike have noted that transparency in governance is not merely a matter of legality but one of national dignity. As legal scholar Dr. Funke Adekola puts it, “When leaders betray public trust, they erode the very essence of citizenship. Restoring that trust requires not just trials, but systemic reform in values and institutions.”

What Lies Ahead.

The trial, expected to stretch over several months of testimony and evidence examination, is itself a test of judicial endurance and political will. It presents complex questions about proof, credibility, and moral accountability. Yet beyond the sterile halls of courtrooms, its wider implications reverberate in global public discourse about how nations manage wealth and how societies hold leaders accountable.

For ordinary citizens around the world, this case is riveting not because of luxury houses or private jets, but because it forces a collective reckoning: What price should a society pay when those entrusted with public resources place personal enrichment above national welfare?

Summative Insight.

As Diezani Alison‑Madueke’s trial unfolds before the world’s eyes, it stands as a stark reminder that the fight against corruption must be relentless and unflinching. It exposes the corrosive effects of unethical conduct at the highest levels of power and underscores the necessity of accountability, irrespective of nationality or office.

In the final analysis, justice is not only about punishment, but about restoring faith in the systems meant to protect the common good. As the British court hears testimony and as evidence is meticulously weighed, the world watches a profound test of justice, one that could shape how future generations understand leadership, integrity and the true cost of power.

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The Resilience in a Moment — Twenty Positive Impacts of a Human Event

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Gen. Buratai Reveals Why Tinubu is Right on ECOWAS Standby Force

The Resilience in a Moment — Twenty Positive Impacts of a Human Event

By Tukur Buratai

The global sight of a leader stumbling is often misinterpreted as a moment of pure vulnerability. However, such an event can act as a catalyst, revealing unexpected strengths and forging powerful connections. For President Bola Tinubu GCFR, the incident in Ankara transcends a mere physical misstep, unfolding into a series of constructive implications that reinforce his leadership, humanize his office, and project Nigeria’s steadiness to the world.

It served as a profound humanizer, abruptly reminding all citizens that the presidency is held by a fellow human being, instantly bridging the perceived gap between the ruler and the ruled and inviting a natural wave of empathy.

This spontaneous empathy directly fuels a narrative of resilience, as his immediate recovery and unwavering continuation of a demanding schedule broadcast a powerful message of personal determination and fortitude that no staged speech could match.

The event successfully tested and showcased the swift, professional response of his security and medical teams, highlighting the competence and preparedness of the critical institutions that support the presidency.

In the relentless cycle of news, the incident acted as an unintended diversion, temporarily shifting intense media scrutiny away from other complex political or economic challenges facing the nation.

This diversion often leads to a unifying national effect, where a leader’s perceived vulnerability can galvanize his political base and draw sympathetic citizens together in a collective expression of support.

We have historical precedent for this, as it can soften the stance of political opponents, potentially leading to a temporary respite from harsh rhetoric, as witnessed in past reactions from prominent political figures.

It creates a simple, relatable story that makes the leadership more accessible and human than any complex policy debate ever could, providing a common reference point.

The seamless continuation of the ceremony and the all-important bilateral meetings that followed powerfully underscored the stability and professionalism of the state apparatus, proving the machinery of government is unshaken.

On a broader scale, the event generates a reservoir of genuine sympathy, both at home and internationally, which can become a subtle asset in future political and diplomatic engagements.

It responsibly opens a necessary, if delicate, public dialogue about the well-being and health transparency of leaders, a conversation vital for any mature democracy.

For the administration’s communication team, it provided an invaluable real-world exercise in crisis narrative control, demonstrating their ability to manage a story with calm and prompt assurance.

On a personal diplomatic level, the shared experience can later serve as a humble and humanizing icebreaker in future formal talks with President Erdogan and other world leaders.

The attentive and immediate assistance rendered by Turkish security and officials can be framed as a testament to the deep respect and strong host-guest relations between the two nations.

Critically, the fact that the stumble did not derail a single item on the diplomatic agenda emphasizes the paramount importance both nations placed on their substantive discussions.

The surge in public discourse it triggered reflects an actively engaged citizenry, while the nature of the reaction provides the administration with a valuable, real-time barometer of public sentiment.

Handling such unexpected, public adversity with composure is the very definition of adaptive leadership, showing a tangible capacity for grace under intense pressure.

For the historical record, it adds a humanizing anecdote to the official legacy, ensuring the president is remembered in full dimension—for his humanity and grit as much as for his policies.

For many citizens, it can inspire a quiet sense of national pride in witnessing their leader overcome a public mishap on the world stage with dignity and poise.

Ultimately, it offers the leader himself a poignant lesson in humility, a grounding reminder of the shared human condition that can inform wiser and more compassionate governance.

Therefore, this moment, though initially jarring, reveals a core strength. Let it be a source of renewed focus for President Tinubu. As the nation faces significant challenges, may this demonstration of personal resilience translate into relentless, unified action for national progress. We pray for his continued good health and steadfast wisdom as he refocuses on the critical work of moving Nigeria forward with determination and purpose. The nation’s forward march continues, undeterred and collectively strengthened.

Tukur Buratai