A former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, has said politics must not be reduced to a tool for personal enrichment, warning that Nigeria’s leadership crisis is driven by selfish and transactional politicians.
Adebayo made the assertion at a high-level meeting in Osun State attended by leaders of Afenifere, the Northern Elders Forum, the Arewa Consultative Forum, and other national stakeholders.
The development was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by his media aide, Ade Alabi.
The meeting comes amid growing public disillusionment with Nigeria’s political class, often accused of prioritising personal interests over national development as economic hardship and governance challenges persist.
Speaking at the gathering, Adebayo traced the roots of Nigeria’s political system to the independence struggle, noting that the country’s founding fathers embraced politics as a vehicle for service and collective progress rather than personal gain.
He said Nigeria was built as a negotiated federation by leaders from all regions who worked together during the Lancaster House constitutional talks to secure independence based on fairness, cooperation and shared vision.
“What we have practiced since then are politics influenced by military rule or post-military habits.
“We are bringing all these philosophies together to remind Nigerians that governance—good governance—is the purpose of politics. Politics is not for selfish leaders or transactional politicians who treat it like a casino to reap personal gains,” he said.
Adebayo noted that Nigeria’s prolonged exposure to military rule following the 1966 Nigerian coup altered the country’s political trajectory, weakening ideological politics and fostering a system that rewards loyalty over competence.
He explained that the Osun meeting was convened to reverse this trend by rebuilding a national philosophy anchored on social democracy and people-centred governance.
According to him, the aim is to redefine the social contract between leaders and citizens to ensure political power is exercised in the public interest.
“We want to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of Nigerians, through a government that is the direct opposite of what we have experienced in recent times,” he said.
He stressed that the initiative transcends partisan interests, insisting it is not about the SDP or any single group but about restoring the values that once defined Nigeria’s politics.
Referencing legacy political movements such as the Action Group, UPN, PRP, NEPU, UMBC, the Northern People’s Congress and the NCNC, Adebayo said they were founded on principles of service, accountability and national development.
He added that unless Nigeria returns to value-driven politics anchored on service and integrity, its development aspirations may remain unattainable.
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