"Aare Mayegun of Owu Kingdom: Nigeria's Struggles Rooted in Leadership Failures"

Table of Contents

• Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria
• Details of the Symposium
• Remarks by Aare Kazeem Bakinson
• Gap Between Leaders and Communities
• About the Ajibosin Platform

The Aare Mayegun of the Owu Kingdom in Abeokuta, Aare Kazeem Bakinson, has asserted that the various challenges confronting the country stem from ineffective leadership.

Bakinson remarked that although Nigeria is endowed with natural resources and industrious individuals, it suffers from a lack of morally sound leaders and insufficient law enforcement.

He expressed disappointment over the decline in accountability and argued that the nation could witness substantial improvements in its infrastructure, security, and healthcare sectors, among others, once appropriate leadership is established.

The regional and urban planning expert made these comments on Saturday during a press conference announcing the second edition of the Ajiboson Platform's annual symposium.

The symposium, themed "The Importance of Leadership in Governance," is scheduled for Friday, October 24th, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).

According to him, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, will preside over the event, while former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), and Osita Chidoka, former Minister of Aviation, will be guest speakers, with Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN, delivering the keynote address.

He stated, “We are fortunate to have abundant natural resources and diligent people, but the issue in Nigeria is leadership; we lack effective leaders."

“Leadership embodies integrity, and integrity is what you uphold when no one is observing you. If we can rectify our leadership, our roads will improve, hospitals will be well-managed, cultism will diminish in universities, and family units will thrive."

Bakinson criticized the disconnect between political leaders and the communities they represent, highlighting that many local government chairpersons do not reside in their constituencies, and approximately 70 percent of buildings lack government approval.

“We find ourselves in a situation where the chairman of a local government does not even reside within the local government area, and 70 percent of our buildings lack proper approval. A successful country is defined by its leadership, and we have leaders who appear to be lost in their roles.”

Emphasizing the numerous gaps present, Bakinson asserted that the Ajibosin Platform is a non-political intellectual movement aimed at fostering integrity, accountability, and excellence in leadership.