Yesterday at the iconic Recital Hall of the Muson Centre, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah validated my position as we continue the search for solutions to our problems in this country
Last week, I was in an animated conversation with a bright next-generation politician
He had lost the gubernatorial election in his state, switched parties to the APC as a result and wasn’t really feeling Nigeria even in the ruling party
His then proposed solution was a decentralisation of Nigeria hence his strong support for President Tinubu as he believes that that would be his focus if reelected
All my push that our problem was leadership and not structure fell on deaf ears so I just kept quiet and continued drinking my Coca-Cola in peace
Bishop Kukah hit it when he said to the packed hall that people mistake office for leadership and mistake leadership for office
I wanted to scream when he made that remark. In a very long speech which came with so many illustrations and side quips, Bishop Kukah finally delved down to just that statement which drew wide applause
We here at the Maddtimes have been pushing the agenda that you don’t have to have a public position to cause massive change in society
In fact, we even say, ignore government where possible and push impact so that we can build clusters and an oasis of development with the firm belief that if we achieve sustainable traction, the whole country will devolve into a trajectory of impact-led visionary leadership that will not rely on institutional power which has failed to deliver the much vaunted benefitsbof true democracy.
We went ahead to curate the 538-page Maddtimes power list Coffee table book which chronicles this position and carries 50 wonderful essays on power and influence written by some of the brightest minds in this country including Prof Koyinsola Ajayi SAN, Magnus Onyibe, Babatunde Fashola, Atedo Peterside to mention a few
These 50 erudite Nigerians now selected 100 Nigerians who by sheer gust of vision have impacted, built structures and influenced Nigerians despite the government giving us just fluffy hope but something to look up to as a people
Incredibly Bishop Kukah led a flurry of Powerlist Nominees in that Hall as he spoke yesterday – Aigboje Aig Imoukhuede, Fola Adeola, Bolaji Balogun, and Temi Popoola were some of those featured in this incredible Book at the session yesterday
The session was organised to honour Aigboje Aig Imoukhuede ‘s mother – Pastor Emily Aig Imoukhuede, who I believe passed on some four years ago
The event was filled as expected with the cream of Nigerian business and economic elites as I sighted quite a few
I saw the legendary JK Randle who poked me on my’ side chic’ showing on Arise TV the other day.
I also saw Dere Otubu, Roosevelt Ogbonna, the other Aigboje my gray bearded fine friend with his wife, pastor Itua Ighodalo also was there and Kunle Akeju who I hadn’t seen in ages was there looking like a GQ model
Another highlight of that event was the speech given by gentleman but extremely wise Fola Adeola who in introducing the panel spoke quite eloquently about strong issues that continue to affect us
Mr Adeola, the last time I spoke to him was on the Desmond Elliott bruhaha and left me with such clarity about life, that he almost in those five minutes achieved a huge brain reset for me.
It was that razor-sharp wit, deep intellectual foresight and pin-drop delivery that he brought to the podium catching and keeping every ones attention to the very end
The two female panelists which included Nigeria’s Head of Service Mrs Did Walson-Jack OON gave good accounts of themselves maintaining the upbeat tempo of the conversation
I would have liked to make a commentary during the event but Bishop Kukah had taken so much time and I’m sure the organisers obliged him having come from far away Sokoto and as such leaving no time for audience participation
Let me just say that the Hall was filled with powerful economic players who have mostly just either ‘given up’ or have turned a side eye to things all in a quest to protect wealth or curate influence
I once sat with one of the biggest economic players in this country and he said – Edgar, my business is heavily regulated by the government and so are most of us, how can we then shout?
That is what I saw abd felt as I scoured the room and saw some of the heaviest hitters in the room and the question that hit me was – how do these ones now turn their enormous power and influence on the back of phenomenal wealth into a positive tool for real change in this country even with the risk of losing patronage in a country that is being run by rent?
That to me is the very start of the real journey to change
Mbok, let’s allow peaceful-looking and forthright Pastor Emily to continue to nestle on the right-hand side of our Lord right under his wings and not come and be disturbing her with the hyperbole-fueled nuances of an elite population still not ready for true change
This was a brilliant outing though as it gave attendees a time out for reflection, validated our position at the Maddtimes power list Coffee table book and further strengthened Aigboje’s positioning as a powerful and influential thought leader who is not only concerned but is working assiduously to drive impact-led and visionary change.
Nice one Sir
Duke of Shomolu
Last modified: June 9, 2026
