Society Gists

Former Ogun State Governor and serving Senator, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has made a clarion call for the revival of core Yoruba values through a united cultural and political front, stressing that the traditional Omoluabi ethos offers a pathway to national renewal and ethical leadership.

Speaking at the second edition of the Public Service Lecture held in honour of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, on the occasion of his 99th birthday, Senator Daniel said Nigeria’s deepening moral and cultural crisis can only be remedied through a values-based renaissance rooted in indigenous traditions.

The lecture, themed “In Search of a Strong and United Yoruba Race as Panacea for Reviving Vanishing Yoruba Values and Culture”, was organized by the University of Ibadan Alumni Association in Akure.

“Pa Fasoranti’s life is the embodiment of the Omoluabi ideal – integrity, wisdom, courage, and service to community. It is not just his long life we celebrate today, but the value he has added to that longevity,”

Describing Omoluabi as “a child begotten by the master of good character,” the senator lamented the erosion of ethical standards in Nigerian society, warning that a culture that prizes materialism over morality is bound to implode.

“Success is now too often measured by wealth rather than integrity or service,” he noted. “The ethical decay we witness today is not just a leadership crisis—it is a societal one. Leaders emerge from the broader culture; they are not aliens.”

Daniel proposed the Omoluabi ethic as a viable moral compass for a nation in search of identity and cohesion, advocating for the concept to be “Nigerianized” through cross-cultural adoption and promotion.

He spotlighted Afenifere’s historical and cultural significance, calling on the Yoruba sociopolitical group to play a leading role in the propagation of ethical rebirth, not just in the South-West, but across Nigeria.

He urged Afenifere to open its doors to all Yoruba sons and daughters who embody the Omoluabi values, regardless of political affiliation.

Addressing internal rifts within Afenifere, Daniel said, “Our evolution politically is not yet at a stage where political parties embody clearly discernible ideals.

We must not allow current affiliations to become barriers to our shared mission of moral and cultural revival.” He commended President Bola Tinubu for bold governance reforms, including judicial empowerment and the creation of regional commissions such as the newly enacted Southwest Development Commission.

Daniel called on Afenifere to partner with like-minded groups nationwide to build consensus around key national issues like restructuring, electoral reforms, and justice system independence.

“This is not a call to tribalism,” he clarified. “Rather, it is an appeal for strategic cultural leadership that aligns with the nation’s broader aspirations.”

Senator Daniel concluded his speech with warm wishes to the celebrant, praising Pa Fasoranti’s enduring legacy of courage, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the Yoruba cause and the Nigerian nation.

“Baba remains a formidable moral compass for our time,” he said.

“May we have the wisdom to follow his example.”