Omoluabi Progressives’ path to restoring ideology, shaping tomorrow’s politics

Politics is all about interests. Beyond interests, however, is a shared vision also known as Ideology. In political science, a political ideology is a certain set of ethical ideals, principles, doctrines, myths or symbols of a social movement, institution, class or large group that explains how society should work and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order. The declared and manifest political ideology of a party enables the electorate to anticipate what the party is up to if elected into office. This eliminates unnecessary wild imagination or expectations that may not be met at the end of the day.

In order to build on its ethos of not just participating in the political process but building a full dose of character, competence, integrity and discipline in its leadership structure, key leaders of the Omoluabi Progressives converged in Ilesa, on Tuesday, December 10, to brainstorm on and deepen their ideological leaning.

Omoluabi Progressives since inception have linked their origin to the social welfarism ideology and political tendency of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as handed down through the ages through Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Abraham Adesanya and Chief Bola Ige, all of blessed memory. The meeting therefore examined in clinical details the ideology and political practices of Chief Awolowo when he became the leader of the Government of Western Region, Opposition Leader in the First Republic and the leader and Presidential Candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria in the Second Republic.

Speaking at the event, former Senator representing Ekiti Central senatorial district, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, urged members of the Omoluabi Progressives to key into the philosophy and ethos of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Ojudu said Awolowo was a staunch advocate of true federalism whose writings in the Path to Nigerian Freedom highlight the dangers of a unitary system masquerading as federalism. According to him, most of today’s leaders lack vision, with many prioritising short-term gains over long-term development. He commended the leadership of Omoluabi Progressives for toeing the path of late Awolowo. He said: “We gather not merely to reminisce but to reflect deeply on the life, work, and enduring legacy of one of Nigeria’s greatest statesmen: Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Decades after his death and more than half a century after he governed this part of our country with integrity, we still find ourselves going back to his ideals and ideas to inform and direct us aright. Such is the power of visionary leadership — the type of leadership I believe all of you here today are signing up for.

“Recently, in Lagos, at the home of our leader (Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola) sitting here, some politicians who had wandered off in search of greener pastures returned to him, lamenting that the pasture they sought was not as green as they had imagined. His response left me deeply inspired. He told them: We are willing to have you back, but only on one condition — that you dedicate yourselves to the fight for a better society, to the building of a sane and just society. We are tired of the politics of “me and me alone”. We must return to the ways of our forebears who gave their lives to the struggle for a just society. This philosophy, this ethos, is what has gathered us here today.

“Let me share an anecdote to set the tone. Once, during a heated debate in parliament, Chief Awolowo was asked why he spent so much of his energy and resources on education when there were seemingly “more pressing issues” like roads and bridges. He replied, with characteristic clarity, “The best road to progress is the road to the mind. This commitment to building the “road to the mind” fascinates me and is reflected in the movement that has commenced here in Osun State. If we fail to cultivate the minds of our people and continue with the current “grab, snatch, and run” philosophy, our doom is inevitable. As pioneers of this new tendency, you have a monumental task to show good examples and to spread this gospel — like the Jehovah’s Witnesses — across our land. Awolowo was a staunch advocate of true federalism — a structure where regions could develop at their own pace, harnessing their strengths without being stifled by over-centralization. His writings in ‘Path to Nigerian Freedom’ highlight the dangers of a unitary system masquerading as federalism. Today, the calls for restructuring echo his foresight.

“Today, many leaders prioritize short-term gains over long-term development. The ruling philosophy today seems to be: grab power, run with it, and never tell us what you intend to do with it. What we have seen is a collection of brigands deploying power for their own aggrandizement. Nigeria stands at a crossroads. With courage, clarity of purpose, and a deep sense of responsibility, we can overcome our challenges and create a nation worthy of our children.”

Also in his presentation titled: “The Omoluabi Progressive,” a pro-democracy crusader, Comrade Adebayo Ojo, harped on the essence of branding and identifying with progressive philosophy in order to achieve the goals of Omoluabi Progressives. Ojo, who analysed the importance of these principles noted that it is only adherence to the true tenets of democracy, federalism, pan-Africanism and humanism that will set the tendency apart as it moves to reclaim Osun in 2026. His words, “We need to recapture the very imagination that gave birth to the core commitments of progressive philosophy worldwide and in Nigeria. It seems that simply mouthing those lofty ideals over the decades have reduced most of us to merely paying lip service to them, and we have unknowingly opened the windows and back doors for the enemies to come and negatively redefine them in reality.

“We can’t teach an old dog a new trick. We are not so young anymore and the corruption of all aspects of societal life has reached monumental proportion; it’s all pervasive! Still, if we are to make this very process deliver on its lofty dreams (first to save Osun, then Nigeria and beyond) we MUST be determined that the majority of us in Omoluabi Progressives will allow the quickening of our hearts to make those drastic changes for the better. There is no other way to a just, free and prosperous Federal Republic of Nigeria!”

In his remarks at the event, former Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, reiterated the importance of continuous value reorientation, reflection and knowledge sharing among members of Omoluabi Progressives. This, he believes, will position the tendency for further growth in membership, exchange of ideas, grassroots mobilisation, character building, integrity and progressive politics, drawing inspiration from the enduring legacies of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Uncle Bola Ige. Aregbesola said: “My philosophy is that politics is all about exchange of ideas rooted in a solid ideology. Profoundly emanating from this is that power is responsibility. You cannot give what you don’t have. Leadership and Political Power are reserved for those who are deeply rooted in ensuring mass prosperity for the people. Political power is not acquired for its sake, but for the welfare of and service to the people.

“In nearly 20 years of being in government, I have also seen that holding any political office is a call to serve the people. Because all of us have agreed to remain selfless and committed to this cause, we must all rededicate ourselves to learn, reflect, rethink and retool. It is what we need to further propagate the vision and mission of Omoluabi.

“We are not just looking for power. We are looking for power to shape the society of tomorrow; one that will be fair to all in terms of development, growth and sustainability. That is why at inception, I reiterated why it is vital to dedicate ourselves to this mission. We want this platform to be one that will shape the leadership of tomorrow. We cannot say that we are propagating change or return to the foundation of progressive politics in our dear country without leading by example. That is why we will continue to remind ourselves of why we are doing what we are doing and why it is important for every noble individual who is pragmatic and committed enough to the Omoluabi ethos to join our team,” Aregbesola stressed.  Earlier,  Chairman, Omoluabi Progressives, Alhaji Azeez Adesiji, said continuous capacity building is essential to strengthening the capacity of the fold’s leadership for the task ahead. Adesiji, while emphasising the need for political tendencies rooted in deep ideology, lauded Aregbesola’s leadership style, which he noted embodies the Awolowo political legacy. He stated that, “In my mind, Ogbeni must have studied Awolowo and his ways very well before finding his way into politics and governance arena. Ogbeni’s contributions so far, seem hinged on Awolowo’s principles. Notwithstanding his outstanding contributions in Lagos, Osun and the Federal in the last 20 years in the governance sphere, his quick identification of the fact that the way politics is played has gone awry and that only a quick return to the Awolowo days will save the day remains the most germane.

“The point I want to make is that our return to the days of Awolowo’s politics is perhaps the best political way to go in the midst of the confusion, insincerity and extreme selfishness that has plagued our political firmament. Let me quickly point out that a call for a return to Obafemi Awolowo’s political days without following it up may remain just a call. The majority of us are still very steeped in the current incorrect and inadequate ways of politicking and governance. You can hardly blame anybody that much for that position because it is what they grow to know. So, it will take extra efforts of illuminating what that past was like, get it impressed on them  consistently and have them imbibe it voluntarily over time. That is the essence of this seminar which we will not relent on in building a virile political platform,” the ex-council boss stated.

The participants commended the leadership of Omoluabi Progressives for the initiative, pledging to optimise the lessons learnt to actualise the tendency’s goals.

_Oluwaseun is the Organising and Publicity Secretary of Omoluabi Progressives_

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