Lam Adesina: A Legend Whose Light Must Not Be Forgotten
In the history of Nigeria’s progressive politics, certain names stand out as beacons of integrity, intellect, and selfless service. Among such towering figures is the late Alhaji Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina (Lam Adesina) a man whose impact transcends time, leaving an indelible mark on hearts, minds, and institutions.
Lam Adesina was not just a politician; he was a thinker, a teacher, and a man of conscience. His life exemplified the essence of leadership anchored on truth, courage, and social justice. A teacher by training and a reformer by calling, Lam combined the simplicity of a classroom educator with the bravery of a revolutionary statesman.
As Governor of Oyo State, he governed with purpose and principle, proving that politics can be a noble tool for service rather than self-interest. He was among the rare breed of progressives who believed that power must always serve the people. Those who worked with him recall a leader who valued ideas more than titles and who measured success not by personal wealth but by public good.
Lam Adesina belonged to that golden generation of African visionaries whose ideological conviction paralleled the likes of Thomas Sankara, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Kwame Nkrumah leaders who placed principle above profit and conscience above convenience. His politics was founded on moral clarity and guided by the belief that the liberation of Africa begins with the liberation of the African mind.
He once declared, “I would rather stand by the truth and lose than stand by falsehood and win.” That was Lam fearless in speech, firm in conviction, and unbending in integrity. Even in times when political expediency tempted many to compromise, Lam remained steadfast, earning the respect of both allies and opponents.
Beyond politics, he was a humanist who believed deeply in the power of education. In the spirit of Nelson Mandela’s timeless words “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” Lam used the classroom as his first platform of change, moulding minds long before he occupied public office.
Today, as Nigeria navigates new political realities, it becomes imperative to remember and celebrate men like Lam Adesina. Their sacrifices laid the ideological foundation upon which the progressive movement stands. To forget them would be to betray the very ideals they fought for.
Lam Adesina also left behind sons and daughters biological and ideological who carry his spirit of courage, discipline, and progressive thought. These are men and women of principle, vision, and patriotism whose ideas and character remain underutilized in shaping Nigeria’s present and future development. They represent the living continuation of Lam’s philosophy young minds ready to serve, if only the nation will look inward and draw from the well of their inherited ideological strength.
Among them is Dr. Ayobami Lam Adesina, a professional with vast experience in Nigeria and abroad, whose expertise spans solid minerals, economic management, and health insurance systems areas central to Nigeria’s developmental agenda. Also carrying the torch is Hon. Dapo Lam Adesina, a vibrant and energetic young politician whose tenure as a legislator left lasting impacts on the lives of his constituents. Together, they embody the enduring values of service, humility, and patriotism that defined their father’s life.
Therefore, we make a passionate call to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Olusegun Osoba, and Chief Bisi Akande the living torchbearers of the progressive tradition to ensure that Lam Adesina’s legacy is immortalized in word and deed. His memory should not fade into silence. It should be institutionalized through scholarships, leadership institutes, or policy initiatives that reflect his lifelong devotion to education, good governance, and social justice.
History will be kind to those who honour their heroes. Lam Adesina represents the conscience of a political generation that believed in honesty, justice, and the people’s welfare. Let no one say that Nigeria forgets its own.
For, as an African proverb reminds us, “A man is not truly dead until he is forgotten.”
Lam Adesina lives on in every act of courage, in every voice that speaks truth to power, and in every young African who still believes that politics can serve humanity. May his legacy continue to inspire the living, and may his name remain etched in the heart of Nigeria’s history as one of the true fathers of modern progressive politics.
Dr. Gidado Abdulkarim Salimon writes from No 1b Halal Street Daudu Islamic Village, Ilorin kwara state.
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