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...
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) was created to shape values, foster patriotism, and safeguard the image of Nigeria. But over time, it has been reduced to routine sensitization drives, workshops, and jingles that barely scratch the surface of the deeper problems corroding our national fabric. The real challenges go beyond roadside campaigns, they strike at the very heart of how Nigeria is perceived both within and outside our borders.
Many Nigerians do not realize that in every ember of discord, in every careless word of self-hatred, and in every act of disregard for our country, we weaken the respect we command abroad. Friends and compatriots have given painful accounts of how they are treated with little or no value outside Nigeria. Sadly, this is not always the fault of foreign nations, it is often the reflection of how we ourselves present our country to the world.
When citizens mock their homeland in public spaces, when politicians weaponize Nigeria’s weaknesses for selfish gain, when corruption becomes a badge of survival, and when leadership fails to defend the dignity of the nation, the damage spreads far beyond the headlines. The image of Nigeria is tarnished not only by bad governance, but by the voices of her own children.
Political actors, especially, must understand that the country is never a pawn in their chessboard of ambition. Disrespecting Nigeria to score points or to secure personal advancement is an act of betrayal. Nigeria is greater than Mr. President, and certainly greater than any individual citizen. Our duty, both as leaders and as followers, is to defend the collective identity of this nation and ensure that future generations inherit a name that carries honor, not disdain.
This is where the NOA must wake up to its true calling. The agency must go beyond sensitization to confront issues of patriotism, national rebranding, and the deliberate cultivation of civic pride. It must design campaigns that challenge corruption, tribal hatred, electoral violence, and the culture of impunity. It must build platforms where citizens rediscover their shared responsibility in protecting Nigeria’s name.
If the NOA fails to take on this bigger task, then it risks becoming irrelevant in a time when Nigeria desperately needs a moral compass. The nation is crying for orientation that is deeper than slogans, one that instills integrity, patriotism, and pride in every citizen.
Nigeria’s image is not government-owned alone; it is our collective inheritance. And the National Orientation Agency must lead the way in reminding us of this truth.
Signed: Abioye Tosin Lawrence, Publisher, Oriontimes Online Newspaper & Frontier, HATE-AGAINST-NIGERIA Campaign
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