The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the 2023 elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has advocated a renewed commitment to the foundational principles that shaped Nigeria’s independence at a high-level stakeholders summit in Osun State.
The summit brought together elements of the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, and other prominent national figures.
Addressing participants at the gathering, Adebayo highlighted that Nigeria was founded as a negotiated federation, with leaders from the North, East, West, and South collaborating to secure independence during the Lancaster House constitutional conferences.
He explained that the country’s early political parties were established to drive development plans grounded in equity and inclusion, but noted that military intervention derailed that trajectory.
“Since then, our political system has largely reflected military influence and post-military tendencies,” he said.
Adebayo stated that the Osun meeting was convened to revive a unifying national philosophy based on social democracy, emphasizing that governance rooted in public good, not transactional politics, should define the nation’s political direction.
According to him, the objective is to ensure that both political aspirants and citizens clearly understand the responsibilities embedded in the social contract of governance.
“Our aim is to deliver the greatest good for the greatest number of Nigerians, through a system that contrasts sharply with what we see today,” he added.
He reiterated that politics must once again serve as a vehicle for advancing the welfare of Nigerians, rather than a means for individual enrichment.
