I have no animosity towards President Tinubu – Olufemi Ajadi

By Michael Adeshina

Olufemi Ajadi, a chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), made a profound declaration on Monday, asserting that his critiques of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration were entirely constructive and aimed at ensuring the president’s success in office.

Fielding questions from journalists, Ajadi categorically dismissed insinuations that his persistent criticism of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government stemmed from animosity towards President Tinubu.

Ajadi emphasized that, as a true son of Yorubaland, it was anathema to harbor hatred towards an elder. He noted that his actions were motivated by a desire to provide constructive feedback to President Tinubu, thereby enabling him to excel in his leadership role.

The NNPP chieftain added that he astutely observed that the president’s actions in office would inevitably impact the reputation of his geopolitical zone, either positively or negatively.

Ajadi reiterated his affection and respect for President Tinubu, both as an individual and as the nation’s leader, expressing his ardent desire to see the president leave a lasting, positive legacy upon completing his tenure. He underscored the significance of President Tinubu’s success, noting that it would redound to the benefit of Yorubaland as a whole.

Ajadi stressed that he could not possibly harbor hatred towards his leader, emphasizing that President Tinubu’s success was inextricably linked to the success of the Yoruba region. He posited that his own contribution to the president’s success lay in offering candid, constructive criticism, unencumbered by the sycophancy that often characterized the interactions between leaders and their followers.

Ajadi drew upon the rich cultural heritage of Yorubaland, highlighting the region’s long-standing tradition of truth-telling and its pivotal role in promoting development in Nigeria since independence. He lauded President Tinubu’s own demonstration of this Yoruba virtue during the military era, particularly through his activism in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which played a significant role in ushering in the current democratic dispensation.

Below were the words of Ajadi while speaking to newsmen on Monday, 26th of August; 2024.

“I cannot hate my leader. Politics and political parties aside, President Tinubu is one of our leaders in Yoruba land and his success in office is our success. My own way of contributing to his success in office is to consistently tell him the truth that he needs to know to succeed. Many people around him because of their sycophancy will not tell him such truth.

“Our ways of life in Yoruba land is to tell the truth and that has been the reason our region is acknowledged for its role in promoting development in the country since independence.

“President Tinubu demonstrated this Yoruba virtue of saying the truth to power during the military rule in Nigeria. We cannot dismissed his role in bringing about this democracy we are all enjoying through his activities in NADECO.”