By Kayode Olopade
Prominent political leaders, legal luminaries, technocrats and grassroots mobilisers on Thursday gathered in Lagos to honour the late Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele, with senior lawyer and activist, Muiz Banire, using the occasion to caution against politics driven by ego, rivalry and the abandonment of inherited government policies and projects.
Speaking at a colloquium organised in memory of the late political icon and themed, “Governance in Transition: Sustaining the Tradition of Service Through Leadership, Reform, Mentorship, Challenges in Governance and Grassroots Engagement,” Banire said Nigeria’s democratic growth would remain stunted unless leaders embraced institutional continuity and service-driven governance.
The event, which attracted eminent personalities from across the political and legal landscape, celebrated the enduring legacy of the late Ademola Adeniji-Adele, fondly remembered for his grassroots political influence, accessibility and commitment to public service.
Banire lamented the recurring trend where incoming administrations abandon projects initiated by their predecessors, describing it as a major impediment to national development and democratic stability.
According to him, many leaders assume office with the mindset that development begins and ends with them, thereby discarding valuable policies and programmes for political reasons rather than improving on them for the benefit of the people.
He noted that governance should be viewed as a continuum anchored on institutional memory and collective progress, not personal ambition or political rivalry.
“Somebody becomes governor or president today and abandons everything done midway to begin entirely new projects, as though national development starts with them. Governance ought to be a continuum, but what we often see is the politicisation of governance and development,” Banire said.
The legal practitioner further decried the growing culture of transactional politics and godfatherism, stressing that loyalty to powerful individuals has gradually replaced competence, merit and genuine mentorship in the nation’s political system.
He observed that young people are frequently mobilised during elections but sidelined when it comes to governance and decision-making, a development he said has weakened leadership succession and institutional capacity.
Drawing comparisons with democratic institutions in the United Kingdom, Banire said stronger structures for civic participation, youth inclusion and grassroots engagement have helped sustain governance and leadership development abroad.
He therefore called for deliberate efforts toward institution-building, accountability, effective grassroots governance, policy continuity and structured mentorship as pathways to sustainable development.
Banire also paid glowing tribute to the late Adeniji-Adele, describing him as a political colossus whose contributions to democratic governance and grassroots mobilisation remain indelible in the political history of Lagos State and Nigeria.
According to him, the gathering was not merely to mourn the deceased but to celebrate a life devoted to service, courage, humility and unwavering connection with the masses.
“We gather to celebrate a legacy woven into the political, democratic and social fabric of Lagos State and Nigeria. He was a rare blend of royalty, intellect, simplicity, courage, political sophistication and uncommon accessibility to the people,” Banire stated.
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