Former Oyo State Commissioner and 2027 Oyo Federal Constituency hopeful, Barr. Seun Temilolu Nurudeen Ashamu, has urged voters to look beyond campaign promises and examine the people surrounding political leaders when assessing their leadership records and capacity.
Ashamu made the call while acknowledging Brother-Asimiyu Abiodun Muideen for his 24-part series, “Ẹni tí ó dá aṣọ fún ni, ti ọrùn rẹ̀ la máa ń wò,” which featured 27 individuals who have shared different stages of Ashamu’s personal and public-service journey. According to him, leadership should not only be measured by how far a leader has travelled, but also by how many people have been able to grow, contribute and succeed along the way.
He challenged voters to examine the trajectory of the people within a politician’s circle, asking whether they have been given opportunities to develop, take responsibility and make meaningful contributions to society. Ashamu stressed that genuine leadership should create opportunities for others to become impactful in their own right, rather than having one person succeed while others remain spectators.
Reflecting on the 27 individuals featured in the series, Ashamu expressed pride in their achievements and the impact they continue to make in their respective communities and areas of responsibility. He noted that their journey has involved shared growth, opportunities and different seasons of life and public service. He concluded with a question he believes can help voters assess the quality of any leader: “Perhaps one of the best ways to know a leader is to look at the people around him. And then ask: What have they become?”
