President BolaTinubu has called on Nigerians to imbibe the enduring qualities of courage, resilience, unity and politics of cooperation exemplified by the late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola.
In a statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the 2026 Samuel Akintola Memorial Lecture and the 60th Remembrance of the former Premier of Western Nigeria,Tinub said his administration remains firmly committed to building policies and people-oriented initiatives propagated by late Akintola.
The President highlighted Akintola’s service as a federal minister, the first Leader of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament and Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, as well as his contributions to major national institutions such as the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria Airways and the University of Ife, Ile-Ife. He noted that Akintola was widely regarded as one of the most astute politicians of his era.
He paid tribute to other patriots who lost their lives during the 1966 coup, including Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh and senior military officers, noting that their sacrifices underscore the grave consequences of disunity, distrust and political intolerance.
President Tinubu urged Nigerians to exercise patience and understanding as ongoing reforms begin to yield positive outcomes, as the objectives of government policies are not to make life harder for citizens but to secure a brighter and more stable future for all.
