OSOGBO – Governor Ademola Adeleke on Tuesday officially flagged off his re-election campaign ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election, declaring that the Accord Party would remain on the ballot and expressing confidence that he would secure a second term in office. Addressing thousands of supporters, party leaders, defectors and various interest groups at Freedom Park, Osogbo, Adeleke described the campaign as a “divine journey to victory,” assuring party faithful that all lawful measures were being pursued to safeguard their constitutional rights to vote and be voted for. “Accord will be on the ballot; your votes will count; and I will be re-elected as your governor on August 15th,” the governor declared amid cheers from supporters. Adeleke said his administration would not succumb to what he described as “dark forces,” insisting that democracy and the rule of law must prevail in Osun State. The governor also revisited the lingering local government crisis in the state, cong...
At 65, Nigeria stands at a generational crossroads. The pre-millennials, those born before the dawn of the 21st century, carry the memory of a nation forged through sacrifice, coups, civil strife, and rebuilding. They lived through the struggles of independence, the battles for democracy, the harsh realities of military rule, and the gradual march toward modern governance.
Gen Z, on the other hand, has inherited a Nigeria they mostly know through headlines, hashtags, and the frustrations of everyday life. Their view of the country is filtered through social media lenses, corruption scandals, unemployment crises, and the unending Japa wave. They did not witness the foundations laid, only the cracks in today’s structures.
This divide is more than age, it is ideological. Pre-millennials value survival, resilience, and the painful gains of progress; Gen Z emphasizes accountability, transparency, and innovation. History and time have drawn a line between these groups, creating different expectations of Nigeria and its leaders.
But one truth remains: no nation can thrive when one generation dismisses the struggles of another. Many young Nigerians underestimate the infrastructure and institutions already built, roads, airports, railways, irrigation systems -- that, while imperfect, still surpass what some West African neighbors can boast of. Too often, this foundation is disregarded, while calls for radical change rise without recognition of past sacrifices.
If younger Nigerians are truly ready to build their country, they cannot simply demand that the “old guard” step aside. They must present themselves as credible, prepared, and visionary builders, capable of taking the mantle, not just critics waiting for handovers. As seen in the United Kingdom, the Labour Party did not wait for the permission of the ruling Conservatives; it organized, presented clear alternatives, and won the mandate of the people.
The lesson for Nigeria’s Gen Z is clear: power is never donated, it is demanded, and earned. To bridge the generational gap, they must honor the struggles of yesterday while actively shaping the possibilities of tomorrow.
Abioye Tosin Lawrence is the Publisher of Oriontimes Online Newspaper and author of the forthcoming memoir, Voices from the Fire: My Journey Through a Hollow Empire.
Comments
Post a Comment
Join the conversation!
Have insights, corrections, or questions about this news story? Drop your comment below. We value civil, fact-based discussion.