Amosun Urges Nigerians to Embrace Leadership as Service, Not Privilege

Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has called on political leaders and stakeholders to actively participate in nation-building, emphasizing that the development of the country is the responsibility of every citizen, not just the government.

Speaking at the second annual lecture series in honour of the late Oyo State Governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina, in Ibadan on Tuesday, Amosun stressed the need to abandon the notion that government must provide everything. He urged Nigerians to embrace personal responsibility and collective action in driving progress.

Amosun, who delivered the lecture titled “Sustaining a Legacy of Effective Leadership in Nigeria”, said the journey to effective leadership might be long but begins with a conscious decision to do what is right. He described leadership as an act of sacrifice rather than a means of privilege and called on Nigerians to uphold integrity in every opportunity they encounter.

“Alhaji Lam Adesina’s life teaches us that leadership is service. He lived simply, spoke the truth, and valued education as a path to freedom,” Amosun said. “To sustain his legacy, we must continue his work of building an educated and responsible society.”

In his remarks, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Ajibola Bashir, noted that leadership and education must remain central to Nigeria’s development. He emphasized that APC must continue delivering the dividends of democracy to maintain its position as the party of choice and honor Adesina’s progressive legacy.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Dapo Adesina described his late father as a man of wisdom whose contributions left a lasting impact, noting that his absence remains deeply felt.