In a nation too often weighed down by cynicism and the politics of expediency, moments of clarity still emerge, moments that cut through the noise and reaffirm the power of purposeful leadership.
The Presidential nomination for appointment of Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one such moment: bold, deliberate, and unmistakably rooted in merit.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye is a product of excellence. From graduating with First Class Honours at Ahmadu Bello University as the best graduating student in his faculty, to refining his diplomatic intellect with distinction at the University of Oxford, his trajectory has always pointed in one direction: excellence.
But even more compelling than his academic brilliance is his record of service.
For 35 years, he stood in the trenches of Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture, steady, strategic, and relentlessly committed. He did not merely represent Nigeria; he projected it with clarity and purpose. As Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he became a stabilising force, serving multiple administrations with rare continuity and professionalism.
This is a man who did not just walk the corridors of diplomacy, he helped design them.
From his role in the historic transition from the OAU to the African Union, to shaping frameworks like NEPAD and the African Peer Review Mechanism, Enikanolaiye’s imprint is etched into Africa’s diplomatic evolution. His intellectual authority, reinforced through engagements at institutions like the National Defence College and NIPSS, reflects a mind deeply invested in Nigeria’s place in the world.
When President Tinubu calls him back to serve, it is not sentiment, it is strategy.
For the very grateful people of Okunland in Kogi State, this appointment carries a force, a spiritual force. It is validation. It is a powerful reminder that competence still commands attention at the highest levels of power. It is proof that the sons of the land, when armed with excellence, will not be sidelined.
And this is not an isolated signal. The emergence of Professor Joash Amupitan as Chairman of INEC further reinforces the pattern, one that speaks to deliberate inclusion, intellectual respect, and a leadership style that understands the importance of placing capable hands where they matter most.
At the political forefront of this resurgence stands James Abiodun Faleke, Rt. Hon., Member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Finance. A very worthy son of Okunland of Kogi state with national reach, Faleke has remained a formidable bridge between grassroots aspiration and federal influence. His role is not ornamental; it is strategic, consistent, and deeply consequential.
He is not just representing his constituencies, he is amplifying his people.
His influence, loyalty, and political clarity have ensured that Okunland is not a footnote in Nigeria’s power equation but a voice that commands attention. His stewardship reflects a rare blend of local pride and national relevance.
What we are witnessing is no accident, it is alignment. A President willing to reward merit. A diplomat whose career commands respect. A political leader who understands the mechanics of power. Together, they represent a convergence that is repositioning Kogi state from the margins to the mainstream of national relevance.
President Tinubu deserves more than our applause, he deserves acknowledgment grounded in truth. He deserves our prayers.
Nigeria cannot rise by accident. It must rise by design, by identifying, elevating, and deploying its finest minds. In Ambassador Enikanolaiye, in Rt. Hon. Faleke, in Professor Amupitan and others, this administration has shown a willingness to do just that.
As Enikanolaiye steps into this critical role, expectations are not just high, they are justified. He carries with him not only the weight of experience but the confidence of a nation that knows his capacity.
Today, Okunland stands tall. Kogi State is energised. Nigeria is better positioned.
History, once again, has taken note: when leadership aligns with merit, progress is inevitable.
Thank you, Mr. President.
– Musa Asiru Bakare
Foundational Member, APC | Political Analyst
Lokoja, Kogi State.
