Afe Babalola Urges Government to Recognize Patriotic Citizens, Not Politicians
Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has called on governments at all levels to focus on recognizing and celebrating patriotic citizens who have made significant contributions to national development, instead of awarding corrupt politicians and public office holders.
Speaking in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday after receiving the ‘Person of the Year’ award from Summit Magazine, Babalola lamented the trend of awarding corrupt individuals with national honors and recognitions. He stressed that this practice needed to stop if the country was to build a great and prosperous future.
Babalola, a legal icon and philanthropist, expressed his gratitude to the magazine for the award, acknowledging the significance of the recognition. He described it as a pleasant surprise and commended Tunde Alufa, the publisher of Summit Magazine, for his leadership and commitment to the development of Ekiti State.
The nonagenarian shared his belief that many patriotic citizens from various sectors, including education, law, health, agriculture, and other fields, have made remarkable contributions to the nation and deserve recognition. He urged the government to shift focus from celebrating politicians to honoring these unsung heroes.
“I am short of words, I thank you for planning this in secret. I appreciate all of us; I want others to grow up like me and become better than me. I love giving, and the only time I am happy is when I give,” Babalola said. He emphasized the importance of encouraging others by recognizing their contributions, particularly those who may not hold public office but significantly impact their communities.
Babalola advised both state and federal governments to redirect their attention to recognizing the efforts of hardworking individuals, such as market women, farmers, and other key players in the country’s economic and social development. “Don’t give awards or recognitions to politicians and members of the National Assembly; look for the best market women, best farmers, best producers of cocoa, and the rest, that’s the way to encourage people to do more,” he added.
Femi Alufa, the publisher of Summit Magazine, praised Babalola for his enduring contributions to various fields, including education, law, healthcare, agriculture, and the economy. He acknowledged Babalola’s legacy in shaping Ekiti State’s educational development and preserving its values of excellence, knowledge, and industry.
Alufa concluded by stating that Afe Babalola’s name would be etched in gold among the legends of Ekiti and Nigeria, highlighting his unparalleled contributions to the development of the region and the nation.
