By Mogaji Wole Arisekola
Nigeria has never been short of leaders; what we have lacked are visionaries who could rise above greed, tribe, and selfish interest.
Along our chequered political history, we have seen flashes of greatness that never fully bloomed. Some men were born for the times, but the times betrayed them. These were patriots who saw tomorrow when others could barely see beyond their noses.
If destiny had smiled differently, Nigeria would not be where she is today. Among them stand five towering figures: Obafemi Awolowo, Moshood Abiola, Alex Ekwueme, Aminu Kano, and Peter Obi. Each of these men carried the burden of Nigeria’s hope on their shoulders. Each was denied, delayed, or destroyed by the system they tried to fix.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the first political prophet Nigeria ignored. A man far ahead of his time, Awo dreamt of free education, rural development, and industrial revolution long before oil became our curse.
He saw the future with the precision of a seer and the discipline of a scholar. But tribal politics, envy, and the fear of his intellect robbed Nigeria of that opportunity.
If Awo had ruled Nigeria, education would have been our oil, and knowledge our export. Instead, we buried merit under mediocrity and rewarded sycophancy.
Then came Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the man who broke every barrier of tribe, religion, and region.
He was loved by the poor, respected by the rich, and accepted by both Christians and Muslims.
His election in 1993 was the closest Nigeria ever came to true unity. But power mongers, afraid of his popularity, aborted that dream in the womb.
Abiola died for the democracy we now abuse daily. His blood, mixed with the tears of Nigerians, watered the tree of freedom we no longer tend.
Dr. Alex Ekwueme, on the other hand, represented the best of intellect and humility. A true gentleman of the East, he believed in restructuring before it became a political slogan.
He saw Nigeria as a house with cracked foundations that needed rebuilding, not repainting. His vision was clear, but the politics of convenience silenced him. He was too decent for the dirty games of Nigerian power.
The North had its own saint too Mallam Aminu Kano. A man of rare integrity, he lived and died for the poor. While others built mansions, Aminu Kano built men. His politics was not about power but about people.
He walked barefoot into the hearts of the talakawa and preached justice without fear or favour. If Nigeria had listened to him, we would have built a nation on compassion, not corruption. But the greedy elite buried his ideals under the carpet of convenience.
Then there is Peter Obi the man of the present generation.
Love him or hate him, his emergence awakened a sleeping nation. He preached prudence in a land of waste, simplicity in an era of extravagance, and accountability in a system addicted to lies.
Like Awolowo and Aminu Kano, he became a symbol of what could have been.
He connected with the youth, the market woman, and the graduate without a job. For once, the children of the poor felt that their votes could matter.
But Nigeria is a country that fears good men. Every system here is designed to frustrate honesty and reward hypocrisy.
Still, the spirit of these five men refuses to die. In every young dreamer who believes Nigeria can work, Awolowo’s vision breathes again.
In every cry for justice and unity, Abiola’s ghost speaks. In every demand for restructuring and fairness, Ekwueme’s intellect echoes.
In every call for compassion, Aminu Kano’s humility whispers. And in every plea for accountability and good governance, Peter Obi’s message rings loud.
They are gone or denied, but their ideas are eternal. Nigeria still stands at the crossroads they once tried to lead her through. The question remains: will we ever learn from the men we refused to crown? Until we do, the greatest presidents Nigeria ever had will remain those who never ruled.