By,Patrick Akhere Ebojele
Endorsements from highly respected traditional rulers often carry very symbolic significance in Nigeria. Nevertheless, many of such endorsements very often transcend protocol and, in reality, are statements about leadership itself. It is in this category that the endorsement by the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II of Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo during a courtesy visit to the ancient palace in Ile-Ife falls.
The Ooni offered an unusually detailed and heartfelt assessment of Governor Okpebholo’s leadership, presenting him as an example of the kind of public servant Nigeria desperately needs at this time. His remarks were beyond ceremonial praise. Instead, they were after thoughtful endorsement of a leadership philosophy rooted in humility, accessibility and service to the people. What unfolded was beyond routine exchange of pleasantries that usually accompanied such visits.
Ooni Ojaja II words came out as deliberate and unequivocal. Rather than offering generic compliments, he zeroed in and singled out Governor Okpebholo and his Kogi State counterpart, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo as exceptional examples of modest leadership in today’s Nigeria.
In his words, “These two governors are the most humble governors we have ever produced in Nigeria,” the Ooni statement remarkably stood out. This is not simply because of its strength but because of the source. The Ooni is one of Nigeria’s foremost traditional rulers, who regularly receives prominent personalities like presidents, governors, ministers, diplomats, and captains of industry. His unique position affords him an opportunity to observe leaders from every part of the country. Consequently, his assessment carries both moral and institutional weight.
He did not stop. He described both governors as men whose defining qualities are “humility and simplicity,” emphasising that they have remained grounded despite occupying one of the highest political offices in the country.
In more than one respect, Ooni’s comments touched on one of the most persistent criticisms of Nigeria’s political class. As it were, public office tends to create distance between leaders and the people who elected them. As politicians ascend to positions of influence, many of them frequently become surrounded by intriguing layers of protocol, security, and bureaucracy that makes interaction with ordinary citizens increasingly difficult.
Accessibility gradually gives way to exclusivity. Power sometimes breeds arrogance instead of accountability. Humility is replaced by grandiosity.
It is against this backdrop that the Ooni presented Governor Okpebholo as someone who has resisted this familiar pattern. In his assessment, neither Governor Okpebholo nor Ododo has allowed public office to define or elevate them above the people. “They don’t carry themselves because of the high offices they occupy,” the Ooni observed.
Instead, he described them as leaders who have remained approachable, down-to-earth, and genuinely connected to ordinary citizens. This is a distinction that is significant because it speaks not merely to personality but to leadership culture. Political leadership is often judged by policies, projects, and budgets. Yet the manner in which leaders relate to the people can be just as important. A governor who remains accessible is often better positioned to understand the realities facing communities, identify emerging challenges, and respond with policies that reflect the people’s actual needs rather than assumptions made from within government offices.
The Ooni repeatedly returned to this idea of people-centred leadership. He praised Governor Okpebholo’s relationship with citizens, which he saw as extending beyond political messaging. Instead, it reflects a governing philosophy in which public service is driven by constant engagement with the people. And this is critical.
All elected politicians promise to put the people first. Campaign slogans across routinely emphasise service, inclusion, and development. However, the true measure of people-centred leadership lies not in campaign slogans but in sustained conduct after assuming office. The Ooni’s remarks meant that Governor Okpebholo has demonstrated those values consistently enough to earn recognition from outside the political arena.
Addressing dignitaries at the palace, the monarch urged the Edo governor to preserve the qualities that have distinguished him. “Your simplicity and your approach to things, keep it up,” the Ooni advised. “That is the best way to live life and lead the people.” Those weighty words carried both praise and counsel.
The Ooni was effectively saying that humility should not be viewed as a temporary political strategy but as a permanent principle of governance. In doing so, he linked Governor Okpebholo’s leadership style to the Yoruba concept of Omoluabi—an enduring cultural ideal associated with honor, integrity, discipline, respect, good character and moral responsibility.
Describing the governor as an “Omoluabi par excellence,” the monarch elevated the conversation beyond politics. He framed humility not simply as a desirable personality trait but as a moral foundation for leadership.
In our country, public confidence in political institutions is often weakened by allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and growing disconnect between leaders and citizens. That is not the case in the New Edo! The Ooni’s endorsement has challenged a deeply rooted assumption in Nigerian politics—that effective leadership requires leaders to project toughness, distance, and unquestionable authority. Too often, accessibility is mistaken for weakness. Humility is confused with a lack of confidence. Listening is interpreted as indecision.
The monarch offered a different perspective. He suggested that the most effective leaders are not those who isolate themselves from the people but those who remain close enough to understand their concerns firsthand.
According to the Ooni, Governor Okpebholo’s achievements are directly linked to that style of governance. He observed that Governors Ododo and Okpebholo have continued to make meaningful impacts in their respective states precisely because they have remained humble, accessible and closely connected to the people they serve.
That observation identifies an alternative model of leadership—one in which public trust becomes a driver of effective governance rather than an afterthought. It also reflects an important lesson about political legitimacy. Leaders who remain connected to their constituents are often better able to anticipate public expectations, respond to social challenges, and implement policies that enjoy wider acceptance. Governance becomes less about exercising authority from above and more about working alongside the people.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of Ooni’s remarks was what they implied about the wider political landscape. By describing humility and accessibility in such glowing terms, the monarch was also acknowledging how uncommon those qualities have become among many public office holders. And the more emphatic the praise, the clearer the contrast.
His commendation was, therefore, not only an endorsement of Governor Okpebholo but also a subtle reminder of the standards Nigerians increasingly expect from their leaders. For Governor Okpebholo, the significance of Ooni’s endorsement extends well beyond ceremonial recognition. It represents validation from one of Nigeria’s most respected traditional institutions that leadership anchored on humility, accessibility and genuine public service remains both relevant and worthy of national recognition.
Such affirmation can not be measured solely in political terms. It reinforces the broader expectation that those entrusted with public office should remain servants of the people rather than become distant occupants of power.
Ultimately, Ooni’s message was about more than one governor. It was about the kind of leadership Nigeria should aspire to cultivate.
At a time when many Nigerians express frustration over the growing disconnect between elected officials and the citizens they serve, the monarch’s endorsement offers an alternative vision—one in which public office does not diminish humility, where authority does not replace compassion, and where leadership is measured not only by the projects completed but also by the character displayed in serving the people.
If that vision takes deeper root in Nigeria’s political culture, the Ooni’s remarks in Ile-Ife may be remembered not merely as praise for Governor Monday Okpebholo but as a timely reminder that the most enduring form of leadership is one grounded in humility, integrity, accessibility and an unwavering commitment to the people.
Ebojele, PhD. in Public Administration is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State
