Lagos, Nigeria — Political strategist and commentator Otunba Segun Showunmi has shared a profound reflection on leadership, continuity, and institutional wisdom following a recent meeting with elder statesman Dr. Kunle Olajide, whom he described as “Efon Alaye’s proud icon.”
Quoting Olajide’s words, Showunmi noted: “The one who truly knows the way does not rush; it is the one running in confusion who loses the path.” He said the encounter left him with deeper insights into the importance of preserving knowledge and passing it on to future generations.
During their conversation which was captured by Veracity Desk (veracitydesk.com), Dr. Olajide spoke of Chief Obafemi Awolowo as a visionary whose ideas stretched “from the Sahara to the Atlantic,” emphasizing that true development requires planning, institutions, and continuity. He also referenced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, acknowledging the courage required to pursue difficult reforms that may not yield immediate rewards but are vital for national progress.
Turning to Showunmi, Dr. Olajide stressed the need to transfer institutional wisdom to younger leaders for the sake of continuity. Showunmi described the moment as humbling, noting that it underscored the challenge facing every society: ensuring that each generation inherits not just power, but wisdom.
“Nations do not become great by accident,” Showunmi wrote. “They advance when the lessons of those who came before are not discarded, when institutions outlive individuals, and when continuity is valued as much as innovation.”
He concluded that leadership is not only about shaping the future but also about being a faithful custodian of the accumulated wisdom of the past.
“The conversation continues,” he added, saluting Dr. Olajide with the Yoruba phrase E ku ise sir — a recognition of his lifelong service to thought, nation-building, and mentorship.
