By Comrade Sodipo Olukunle Oladimeji
ckswritings@gmail.com
_November, 2026_
There was once a man called Awolowo.
He was not a saint. But he was original. He was pure. He was undiluted.
Like pure palm oil, you knew what you were getting. Like original honey, no sugar added. Like clean water from a deep well, it quenched thirst.
Awolowo built schools when others built mansions. He gave free education when others gave empty promises. He built Cocoa House when others were building their pockets. He believed leadership was service, not a business.
Then Awolowo died. And Nigeria began to produce _Awolowos_.
But these are not Awolowos. These are Adulterated Awolowos.
The Tragedy of Adulteration
Go to the market today. You ask for palm oil, they give you red dye mixed with water. You ask for honey, they give you sugar water. You ask for petrol, they give you kerosene mixed with water. It looks the same. It smells almost the same. But it will destroy your engine.
That is what has happened to our leadership.
Every election season, new Awolowos appear. They wear the same glasses. They wear the same cap. They quote the same _”The children of the poor…”_ They carry Awolowo’s picture on their posters. They claim to be his disciples.
But inside, they are empty. Inside, they are adulterated.
The original Awolowo built free education. The adulterated Awolowo builds private universities for his children while public schools collapse.
The original Awolowo built industries and farms. The adulterated Awolowo sells government land and shares contracts to his cronies.
The original Awolowo feared God and history. The adulterated Awolowo fears only losing the next election.
How Do You Know An Adulterated Awolowo?
1. He talks about the people, but lives far from the people. He visits the poor only when camera is present.
2. He promises free education, but his children school abroad. He will not allow his own child to attend the school he built for yours.
3. He quotes Awolowo, but practices the opposite. His mouth is Awolowo, his hands are thief.
4. He buys loyalty, he does not earn it. He shares rice and N5,000 during election, then steals N5 billion after election.
A Nation Drinking Poisoned Water
A nation that drinks adulterated water will always be sick. A nation that follows adulterated leaders will always be in decline.
And we are sick today because we keep drinking from the same polluted well.
Our roads are bad, because adulterated Awolowos awarded the contracts to themselves.
Our hospitals are empty, because adulterated Awolowos took the drugs money abroad.
Our youths are jobless, because adulterated Awolowos killed the industries Awolowo built.
We are not suffering because Nigeria is poor. Nigeria is rich. We are suffering because we are led by counterfeits – men who look like leaders, sound like leaders, but have no substance of leadership.
The Lesson
My people, before you buy palm oil, you test it. Before you buy honey, you taste it. Before you buy a phone, you check if it is original or China copy.
Why then, do we not test our leaders?
Do not vote for a man because he wears Awolowo’s cap. Vote for a man because he carries Awolowo’s character.
Do not vote for a man because he mentions Awolowo’s name. Vote for a man because he does Awolowo’s works.
Do not vote for a name. Vote for a nature.
Awolowo is dead. But Awolowo’s spirit is not in the cap, it is in the character – integrity, vision, discipline, sacrifice, and love for the common man.
Until we reject the adulterated Awolowos and demand the original substance of leadership, Nigeria will continue to decline.
The choice is ours: Continue drinking poison that looks like water, or demand pure water again.
Comrade Sodipo Olukunle Oladimeji, _anipr_
Public Affairs Analyst | Security Strategist | OGHA Candidate.
