Going down memory lane, the ancient town of Owo has its indelible place in Nigeria’s political history, having made historic marks in the lives of the Nigerian people as the birthplace of the Action Group political party and a fertile ground for progressive ideas in the country, such as the birthplace of free primary education in Western Nigeria and the political centre of the anti-military regime/dictator, General Sanni Abacha, led by the Chairman of the National Democratic Coalition, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, whose name was conspicuously omitted from President Bola Tinubu’s list of posthumous honours in 2025.
Also, Ajasin, a nationalist, worked collaboratively with other nationalist leaders like Alhaji Balewa, Dr Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Anthony Enaharo, etc., across the ethnic and cultural divide lines to secure Nigerian independence in 1960.
Oops! Sage Ajasin was the first elected governor of Ondo State.
I vividly recall that as chairman of NADECO, Ajasin held the fort against the oppressive and brutal Abacha military regime in Nigeria while the then Senator Bola Tinubu and other opposition members escaped into political exile in the United States.
How can President Tinubu forget a fellow compatriot, champion and icon of the struggle for democracy in Nigeria?
Against this backdrop of Ajasin’s active participation in Nigeria’s political affairs and life and his significant contributions to the country’s national development, it is appropriate, fair and equitable justice for President Tinubu to take a corrective measure and amend the 2025 list of honourees to include a former elected member of the House of Representatives from Owo, a nationalist, former first elected governor of Ondo State and a leader in the struggle for Nigerian democracy.
Consequently, the omission of Ajasin’s name from the list of 2025 national honours is tantamount to a lack of knowledge and appreciation of the significant contributions made to the political development of Nigeria.
Nigerians should be proud of Ajasin’s leadership role in NADECO and the movement’s political struggle to make a change and usher in the Nigerian democracy, which has been muddling through since 1999.
- Adeyeye writes from Ota, Ogun State.
