Dr. Tofunmi Ogunronbi
Nigeria stands at a crossroads where the character of our leaders matters just as much as their competence. At a time when unity, dignity, and moral clarity are desperately needed, the recent public confrontation between former Governor Ayodele Fayose and former President Olusegun Obasanjo has cast a troubling shadow over our political culture.
Across the country, many of us, especially the younger generation rising behind today’s political giants are watching closely. What we see today becomes the blueprint for what we will become tomorrow. And this is precisely why this fracas is both uncalled for and damaging.
No matter our opinion of him, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is an elder. He represents a generation that carries the weight of Nigeria’s political history. Disagreements with him are not forbidden, but the manner of expression matters. Our culture demands restraint, diplomacy, and respect, especially toward elders.
The Yoruba say:
“Agba ki wa loja, ki ori omo tuntun wo.”
When an elder is in the marketplace, the head of the newborn is safe.
This is the value we were all raised on. When an elder offends, we correct with wisdom, not with public confrontation.
The claim that $20,000 was once given to Chief Obasanjo is not the issue, it is the spirit in which it was later brought into the open. Was it not, in truth, given with the expectation of goodwill from “the children”? Our proverbs teach us that help offered to an elder should not be brandished later to win an argument.
More troubling, however, is the fresh demand for ₦10 million allegedly contributed through the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. Nigerians are asking: Was this truly personal money? Or was it part of the regular impress of office? And if it was public funds, why seek reimbursement after so many years?
As an individual, I, Dr. Tofunmi Ogunronbi, admire your political doggedness. I respect your courage. I celebrate your boldness. But not to this extent. Not to the point where the lesson passed to my generation is one of insults over elders, confrontation over decorum, and public shaming over private resolution.
We upcoming politicians look up to men like you for guidance. What are we being taught today, respect for elders or rebellion against them? Leadership is not only about bold moves; it is also about the dignity of restraint.
Sir, have you considered what this means for your children? In years to come, what do you want the world to remember them for? Are you not thinking about their future and the doors your actions may close against them? Politics has a long memory. The world does not forget easily. Many who cheer you today do not mean you well. Those pushing you forward may be quietly pushing you toward your own destruction.
We need only recall the painful clash between former President Goodluck Jonathan and this same Papa Obasanjo. How did it end? Who bore the heavier burden? And what did that conflict cost Jonathan politically and reputationally? The lesson was clear: no one wins when they fight an elder publicly, neither the elder, nor the younger, nor the nation.
Your mother’s emotional plea for Nigerians to pray for you touched many hearts. It showed that even families suffer when leaders allow confrontations to spill into the public. There is no honour in a conflict that brings distress to those who love you most.
Sir, this moment calls for deep reflection, not retaliation. Nigeria is passing through a delicate season where every action of our leaders either strengthens or weakens the moral fabric of the nation. Your voice carries weight. Your actions shape perceptions. Your conduct influences how the next generation of politicians, including people like me – learn to behave.
The younger generation watches you, not only for political strategy but for moral direction. These are the real tests of leadership. These are the moments that define the legacy you will leave behind.
Think of your children. Think of their future in a society that remembers everything. In politics, battles end but memories do not. Long after today’s supporters have faded away, long after those clapping around you have found new interests, the only people who will carry your name and either benefit from it or struggle under it are your children. Do not shut doors they themselves have not walked through. Do not create enemies they did not provoke. Do not leave behind a history that will make them explain, defend, or correct what could have been avoided.
Sir, your adversaries are not the ones who speak loudly; they are often the ones who push you quietly toward self-destruction. Those encouraging this confrontation are not thinking of your legacy, they are thinking of their personal gain. When the dust settles, they will disappear.
Leadership is not only about winning arguments, it is about choosing arguments wisely. It is about knowing when silence becomes strength. It is about understanding that leadership belongs not just to the present, but to posterity.
You have an opportunity now to demonstrate greatness beyond combativeness.
To show that true strength is not only in fire, but also in restraint.
To prove that courage is not only in confronting power, but in protecting dignity, your own and that of elders before you.
To teach the younger generation that respect remains the backbone of Yoruba culture and Nigerian values.
Sir, you can still step back. You can still choose the higher path. You can still show that true leaders apologize- not because they are weak, but because they are wise. You can still preserve your legacy, safeguard your family’s future, and remind Nigeria that you are a man guided by values, not by provocation.
Nigeria is watching with hope.
Our youths are watching for direction.
Your own children are watching for reassurance.
And history- quiet, patient, and always fair, awaits the decision you will make.
Your legacy is bigger than this moment.
Choose dignity.
Choose restraint.
Choose the future.
