On Sunday, September 14, 2025, two major Nigerian states—Oyo and Rivers—became focal points for calls to unity, peace, and selfless leadership as prominent figures addressed citizens at pivotal moments in their regions’ histories. In Ibadan, Oyo State’s capital, Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, paid a visit to the Olubadan-designate, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, emphasizing the need for love and national cohesion. Meanwhile, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Sole Administrator, used a thanksgiving service to urge politicians and citizens to put aside rivalry and bitterness as the state prepared to transition back to democratic governance after six months of emergency rule.
According to The Punch, Peter Obi’s visit to Oba Ladoja’s Bodija residence was more than a courtesy call. It was a moment to reflect on the values needed to steer Nigeria toward a brighter future. “First, I’m here to pay my sincere respect to royalty, to the Olubadan-designate before the installation. I’m here to pay respect for the man I have deep respect for,” Obi said, underlining the significance of the occasion. He congratulated Ladoja on his impending installation as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland and highlighted the city’s unique place in Nigeria’s political, social, and economic life. “Ibadan is very strategic and central to the development of Nigeria. And as a former senator, governor, business tycoon, he will have all what he needs to succeed. And I will support him as Olubadan for the sake of one Nigeria.”
Obi’s message, as reported by Vanguard, transcended the usual boundaries of tribe, religion, or political affiliation. “Can we unite and love each other to build a better country? We have no other country except this one. We must all build it together for the benefit of everybody,” he urged, reiterating his commitment to national unity and selfless leadership. He pointed to the University of Ibadan as a symbol of the city’s inclusivity, noting, “Most of the schools in Ibadan, University of Ibadan, for example, were attended by many people from different parts of Nigeria and they are making it in all areas of human endeavors.”
Obi was not alone in his advocacy for unity. He was accompanied by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Lagos, and Yunusa Tanko, signaling a broader coalition supporting his message. The visit also attracted attention from across party lines. Members of the House of Representatives, Sina Oyedeji and Adebayo Adepoju, both from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), visited Oba Ladoja the same day. Speaking to journalists afterward, they described the Olubadan-designate as a “father to all” and shared that he advised them “to do well, he told us to make sure that we deliver and do well for our people. He told us to make sure we did not disappoint our people and make sure we deliver.”
Oba Ladoja himself offered a humble perspective on his new role, telling reporters, “I just see my appointment as Olubadan as another opportunity for service. Many people erroneously believe that the throne is for glamour. The time of glamour is gone; in contemporary times, it is about service, what you have on the table for the people in society.” His remarks reflected a shift in traditional leadership toward a more service-oriented approach, resonating with Obi’s call for selfless and inclusive governance.
While Oyo State celebrated a new chapter in its traditional leadership, Rivers State was marking the end of a turbulent period. As reported by The Guardian, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, appointed by President Bola Tinubu as Sole Administrator after the declaration of a state of emergency on March 18, 2025, addressed an inter-denominational thanksgiving service at the Ecumenical Centre in Port Harcourt. The event was part of the official ceremonies marking Rivers’ transition back to democratic governance after six months of emergency rule, which had been imposed following a political crisis threatening the state’s stability.
In his address, Ibas reflected on the challenges that had beset the state before the intervention. “By God’s grace, and with the support of Mr. President and all of you, we have walked through those difficult days together. The survival and relative stability we enjoy today is a testimony of God’s faithfulness,” he said. Ibas stressed that his administration had “deliberately sowed seeds of love and peace, which he said requires the collective nurturing of all Rivers people to flourish.”
His message to politicians was unequivocal: “Sheath your swords,” he admonished, “declaring that no political victory or personal gain is worth the blood of any Rivers citizen.” He called on all political actors to put the progress and prosperity of Rivers State above personal or partisan interests, insisting that “politics must never be an excuse to destroy the state they are called to serve.”
Ibas also directed a heartfelt appeal to the youth of Rivers State, urging them not to be used as instruments of violence but instead to channel their energies into building a peaceful and prosperous society. Community leaders, elders, and religious figures were encouraged to continue providing guidance and prayers to ensure the state’s ongoing stability. “The seeds of reconciliation have been planted. These seeds need your deliberate nurture to take roots. Our collective sacrifices and commitment to peace is what we must all strive to guide at this time,” Ibas said, attributing the administration’s achievements to the support and patience of Rivers citizens and the leadership of President Tinubu.
The Chaplain of the Chapel of Everlasting Grace, Pastor Barasin Ogan, echoed Ibas’s call for unity in his sermon, urging citizens to let go of the past and work together to build a better Rivers State. The atmosphere in Port Harcourt reflected both relief at the end of a difficult chapter and cautious optimism about the future.
These parallel events in Oyo and Rivers highlight a broader yearning across Nigeria for leaders who place service, unity, and peace above personal ambition or partisan divides. The words of both Peter Obi and Vice Admiral Ibas, as well as the actions of Oba Ladoja, point to a growing consensus that the country’s challenges—whether political, social, or economic—can only be overcome through collective effort, reconciliation, and a renewed commitment to serving the common good.
As Nigeria continues to navigate complex transitions and persistent divisions, the examples set in Ibadan and Port Harcourt offer a glimmer of hope. Leaders and citizens alike are being called to move beyond old rivalries and to nurture the seeds of unity and peace that have been planted, however tentatively, in recent days.
