Amb. Yemi Farounbi, Mimiko, Prof. Nwolise, and others have extolled the virtues of the late Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, calling for renewed commitment to national unity in Nigeria. They emphasized the importance of embracing unity regardless of region, tribe, or tongue.
The remarks were made during a national discourse held in honor of Fajuyi, themed “Fajuyi: Essential Values for National Leadership.” The event, organized by the Ibadan Discourse Group, took place at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, and celebrated Fajuyi’s legacy as a model of sacrificial leadership.
In his opening speech, Chief Adebisi Adesola, Former Manger of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State BCOS and chairman of the event, commended the attendees and described the gathering as timely given Nigeria’s current challenges and ongoing debates over purposeful leadership.
He explained that the Ibadan Discourse Group is an independent think tank dedicated to fostering intellectual dialogue and offering practical solutions to societal issues, in partnership with various organizations, institutions, and individuals sharing its vision.
Adesola praised the late Fajuyi as a quintessential national hero whose leadership exemplified sacrifice, hospitality, and unity—values that remain vital for Nigeria’s progress. He highlighted the need to reflect on Fajuyi’s qualities to restore value-based leadership across the country.
He further addressed Nigeria’s ongoing leadership crisis, stating, “I want to call our attention to one running battle with leadership in this country. Over the years, we have identified leadership as a major problem that has handicapped the full realization of our potentials.
If you go through the last 28 years, every change in leadership has been attributed to poor performance. It becomes a running battle. Unfortunately, this blame game persists. We have seen President Obasanjo, who has often criticized his successors.
We decided to hold a discussion in Fajuyi’s honor to focus attention on leadership. Fajuyi was rarely a cardinal. His leadership carried the values of sacrifice, hospitality, and prevented two regions from being at daggers drawn.”
Adesola emphasized that Fajuyi’s leadership qualities serve as a foundation for restoring integrity and purpose in Nigeria’s leadership landscape.
Amb. Yemi Farounbi, former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, media guru and patron of the Ibadan Discourse Group, lauded Fajuyi as a brave soldier with exemplary loyalty and administrative acumen.
He recounted Fajuyi’s military bravery, including his distinguished service in Congo during the Lumumba Sponge crisis, where he was decorated with the Military Cross, the highest British award for courage. Farounbi also recalled Fajuyi’s unwavering loyalty when he stood by his superior, Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi, laying down his life in the process.
Beyond his military feats, Fajuyi’s administrative skills were evident in his efforts to quell the political crisis known as Operation Wild Wild West (Wet E) in the Western Region, where he intervened during tensions between loyalists and supporters of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola.
Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, former governor of Ondo State addressing the press at the event, stressed the importance of instilling the virtues of Fajuyi in Nigeria’s youth. “Fajuyi’s discipline, courage, and selflessness are values any nation needs for progress,” he said.
“It’s gratifying that the Ibadan Discourse Group organized this event, especially with the involvement of students who can learn and emulate his virtues. For every outing, our focus should be on the future. If we continue celebrating the best of what has been, we can engineer a better future.”
Mimiko also reiterated the need for national unity and cohesion. He described Fajuyi’s decision to die alongside his superior as a rare act of loyalty and selflessness. He called for restructuring Nigeria’s political system to better reflect its diversity and emphasized the necessity of visionary, contextual leadership. He condemned election rigging as a form of civilian coup and argued that Nigeria’s core problem lies in lawlessness, not leadership.
He proposed that the Ibadan Discourse Group leverage creative arts, such as historical films, to promote unity and develop national consciousness.
Prof. O.B.C. Nwolise, the guest lecturer, underscored that good leadership is rooted in peace, development, and the well-being of citizens. He pointed out that lawlessness, rather than leadership deficiency, is Nigeria’s most significant challenge. Citing the annulled June 12 election as Nigeria’s only truly free and fair election, he argued that Nigeria is more a state than a nation.
Nwolise proposed several initiatives, including the immediate reconvening of the Southern Governors’ Forum and their wives’ forum, to foster dialogue; efforts to de-escalate tensions between Igbos and Yorubas, which he described as divisive traps; and the creation of a tripartite hospital—named the Adekunle Fajuyi/Aguiyi Ironsi Memorial Hospital—that would integrate Western medicine, African traditional healing, and spiritual care.
Other speakers at the event called for unity, peace, and national development, urging Nigerians to emulate the discipline, fearlessness, and integrity exemplified by Lt. Col. Fajuyi.
Among those present were Chief Adebisi Adesola, Alagba Banji Ogundele, Prof. Nwolise, Tunde Odunlade, representatives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, students from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan City Polytechnic, and Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, as well as members of the Fajuyi family, intellectuals, pressure groups, and the press.