Varsity Don Urges Nigerian Leaders to Balance Tradition, Law, Accountability for National Stability, ,
Funmi Ogundare
A Professor of African Literature and Cultural Philosophy, Stephen Solanke, has called on leaders across Nigeria to harmonise tradition with progress, law with compassion, and power with accountability as a pathway to building a just, inclusive and stable nation.
Solanke said this recently, while delivering the 26th inaugural lecture of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, titled ‘Orality and the Development of Man: The Foolishness of the Gods and the Wisdom of Man’.
According to him, the foundations of sustainable leadership and good governance lie in words, both spoken and written, describing orality expressed through proverbs, folklore, myths, and storytelling as an enduring tool for shaping societies, transmitting values, and promoting ethical leadership.
“Before the advent of written laws and constitutions, societies were guided by the power of the spoken word. Orality is not only cultural heritage; it is a framework for empathy, listening, and inclusive governance,” he said.
He warned against disregarding indigenous knowledge systems, urging leaders to reconnect with the moral lessons embedded in oral traditions and to embrace dialogue and community engagement as central to governance.
Drawing lessons from history, Solanke noted that written laws had at times been manipulated to enforce injustice, citing colonial decrees and apartheid-era policies as examples.
He stressed that laws must reflect the lived realities and cultural values of the people or risk becoming oppressive.
Quoting a Yoruba proverb, “The okro cannot grow taller than its planter,” he reminded leaders that power is not absolute, and that they must remain accountable to the people.
“In the so-called ‘foolishness of the gods,’ there is wisdom for man,” he stated, urging leaders to speak truthfully, act with integrity, uphold justice, and lead with humility while preserving culture alongside progress.
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, Education Archives – THISDAYLIVE, September 24, 2025, 12:01 am
