From Mbakwe to Tinubu : Why Performance Must Define Leadership -Ondo State Eminent Personalities Group
From Mbakwe to Tinubu : Why Performance Must Define Leadership -Ondo State Eminent Personalities Group
….No Noise, Just Results, Leadership by Record, Not Promises….
In a political climate often dominated by rhetoric, propaganda, and sentiment, the true measure of leadership remains performance. History offers a timeless example in the legacy of Samuel Mbakwe, whose confidence in his achievements redefined what it means to seek re-election. His belief was simple: tangible results speak louder than campaign slogans.
Today, as Nigeria navigates complex economic and social realities, that standard is more relevant than ever. Leadership must not be assessed by promises or popularity, but by verifiable impact on infrastructure, the economy, public welfare, and institutional development.
This statement draws from that enduring principle, challenging today’s political actors to let their records not their words earn the trust of the people.
Full statement reads:
PRESS STATEMENT
Issued by Ondo State Eminent Personalities Group
Dee Sam’s Example— The Standard for Leaders
A former governor of old Imo State, Samuel Mbakwe — the Weeping Governor”_ — was asked in 1983 why he, as NPP governorship candidate, wasn’t campaigning hard like NPN, GNPP, and PRP candidates.
His answer remains the gold standard:
“I don’t need to spend money on campaigns anymore after my first tenure.
(1) The roads I constructed campaign for me.
(2) The industries I built campaign for me.
(3) Adapalm, our shoe industry, Imo Poultry, and Aluminium Extrusion campaign for me.
(4) Imo Airport campaigns for me.
(5) The schools and their happy teachers will campaign for me.
(6) The workers will campaign for me.
(7) If they don’t, then I don’t need to be governor.”
That is how a man with a record talks.
Work speaks. Results shout.
THE TINUBU STANDARD — LAGOS TO ASO ROCK
(1) As Governor of Lagos (1999-2007):
The IGR he met at ₦600M/month campaigns for him. He left it at ₦7BN+/month.
(2) LIRS, LAMATA, LASTMA, LAWMA campaign for him.
(3) Lekki-Epe Road, BRT blueprint, Eko Atlantic campaign for him.
(4) Lekki Free Trade Zone campaign for him.
(5) The men he raised — Fashola, Osinbajo, Sanwo-Olu, Gbaja — campaign for him.
(6) Surviving OBJ’s 2-year LG fund seizure by creating 37 LCDAs campaigns for him.
(7) As President (2023-Present):
Fuel subsidy removal — painful but bold — campaigns for him.
(8) FX unification to stop arbitrage campaigns for him.
(9) Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Highway, Student Loan Scheme campaign for him.
(10) Local Govt autonomy won at Supreme Court campaigns for him.
(11) 4x growth in federal revenue without new taxes campaigns for him.
That is record. That is machine. That is CEO governance.
THE QUESTION FOR MR. PETER OBI
We expect the same _Dee Sam_ answer from Mr. Peter Obi in this campaign period.
Let his achievements as Governor of Anambra State campaign for him.
He should not impose himself on us.
He should stop the TV noise and ethnic bigotry.
Let his achievements in:
Infrastructure. Security. Food. Health. Jobs. Economy. Education. Youth development. Anti-corruption.
Let THOSE campaign for him.
If the work is there, it will speak.
If it’s not, no amount of shouting, statistics, or sympathy will save him.
FINAL WORD:
Achievements no dey do press conference.
Records no dey do tribalism.
Na results we go vote.
And remember: Abacha was a murderer. Nobody should celebrate a murderer.
Hunger no dey read manifesto. If you no chop, you no chop.
Banji Alabi Esq
Convener
Ondo State Eminent Personalities Group
