Oyo 2027: “We Cannot Continue to Pray for Change While Shying Away from the Work it Demands,” Declares APC Governorship Hopeful Dr. Adewale Kolapo Kareem (AKK).

I must have said enough about leadership to be judged with, but here is another perspective in alignment with all the aforesaid. Leadership is not a casual pursuit or an accidental inheritance, rather, an intentional and profoundly sacred endeavour that demands the highest form of commitment, where every decision carries the weight of collective destiny. In Nigeria, we often treat leadership as a reward or a platform for personal elevation, yet true leadership requires a deliberate alignment of purpose, ethics, and action, guided by a sense of duty that transcends self-interest.

The deficits we face, maybe persistent poverty, crumbling infrastructure, and uneven opportunities, are not inevitable curses but the direct consequences of a lack of this intentionality. When leaders approach their roles with prestige of intent, viewing power as a trust from the people, and from God, governance becomes a vehicle for upliftment rather than extraction. This is the standard we must demand, for anything less dishonours the privilege of leading a people as resilient and gifted as Nigerians.

We are a nation of deep faith, where prayer is our first response to every challenge, from personal trials to national crises, and this spiritual devotion is one of our greatest strengths. Yet, faith without corresponding action risks becoming a substitute for the hard work required to solve our problems. God has answered many of our prayers by endowing Nigeria with abundant natural resources, fertile land, a youthful population, and intellectual talent that rivals any in the world. What remains missing is the willingness to deploy these blessings with focus, honesty, and strategic resolve. Intentional leadership means recognising that prayer opens doors, but human effort walks through them—building systems, enforcing accountability and prioritising the common good over narrow interests.

The gap between our potential and our reality stems from a reluctance to match our prayers with the disciplined labour needed to harness what God has provided. Science, innovation, sound policy, and ethical management are gifts placed at our disposal, yet we often overlook them in favour of supplication alone. Nations that have risen from hardship to prosperity did so not by prayer alone but by leaders who combined faith with rigorous planning, investing in education, infrastructure, and institutions that serve the people. In Nigeria, we possess the same capacity, but it requires a shift toward intentional governance. Governance where leaders commit to measurable outcomes, transparent processes, and inclusive development that leaves no community behind.

Great nations are built by leaders who understand that prayer supports action, not replaces it; God sees the heart and rewards genuine effort aligned with His principles. When leadership is intentional, it channels divine blessings into actual progress, turning resources into roads, knowledge into opportunity, and faith into a society where justice prevails. We cannot continue to pray for change while shying away from the work it demands; honest budgeting, anti-corruption measures, youth empowerment, and equitable resource allocation. These are the practical expressions of our faith, the true answers to our collective supplications.

I am of constant reflection, and this piece is one. I call on every Nigerian to embrace this intentionality in our daily lives and demand it from our leaders. We must honour our faith by pairing prayer with purpose and turn our abundant blessings into the foundation of a prosperous nation. The future we seek is within reach if we commit to the sacred work of leadership with courage and clarity. God has equipped us; now, we must rise to the task.

~ Dr. Adewale Kolapo Kareem (AKK)

Oyo State APC Gubernatorial Aspirant

APC, PROGRESS!

Oyo 2027

AKK 2027

Governor 2027

AKK! Aseyori ni tiwa.

AKK!! Ajose Ajoje

AKK!!! A Task that must be done.

Friday, November 21, 2025.