President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Nigerians to embrace national reconciliation by discarding bitterness, intolerance and divisive tendencies, urging a return to the politics of cooperation and dialogue.

The President made the call on Thursday in an address delivered at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, during the 2026 Samuel Ladoke Akintola Memorial Lecture, held to mark the 60th remembrance of the former Premier of the Western Region, who was assassinated during the January 15, 1966 military coup.

Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said Nigeria’s future depends on unity and collaborative politics, ideals strongly championed by the late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola.

The remarks were contained in a press statement issued by Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the SGF.

According to the President, Akintola was a bridge-builder whose legacy should guide contemporary Nigerian leadership. He noted that the memorial lecture, themed “Unity in Diversity: Lessons from Chief Ladoke Akintola’s Legacy,” provided a critical reflection on the life and ideals of one of Nigeria’s most strategic political figures.

Tinubu described Akintola’s politics of cooperation as a governing philosophy rather than a mere strategy, aimed at integrating the Western Region into the national mainstream and ensuring equitable distribution of resources — a doctrine Akintola famously referred to as the “fair share.”

“Chief Akintola’s greatest legacy lies in his ideals — his commitment to consensus over conflict and national unity over regional isolation,” the President said.

Reflecting on the January 1966 coup, which claimed the lives of Akintola, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, Tinubu said the tragedy highlighted the dangers of political intolerance and disunity.

He challenged historical narratives that justified the coup on allegations of corruption, stressing that Akintola was a visionary leader whose administration contributed significantly to landmark development projects in the South-West, including the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria Airways and the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

Addressing Nigeria’s current socio-economic challenges, Tinubu linked his administration’s Renewed Hope agenda to the developmental foundations laid by Akintola, urging Nigerians to exercise patience as reforms take effect.

While acknowledging the South-West’s contributions to national development, the President assured the region of his administration’s continued commitment to infrastructure development and cultural preservation. He emphasised that Nigeria’s diversity should be leveraged as a strength rather than a source of division.

Tinubu, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the lecture, stressed that the remembrance of past tragedies should serve as a tool for healing rather than reopening old wounds. He called on political leaders to emulate Akintola’s resilience and preference for dialogue, noting that unity remains the only path to lasting peace and national progress.

The event was attended by dignitaries, including the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa I, and the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.