Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s immediate past vice president, has emphasized the need for decisive political action to achieve the outcomes of good governance. Speaking at the ongoing Technology, New Media, Citizens, and Governance Conference (TNCG) in Lagos on Thursday, Osinbajo stressed that political action must go beyond protests and fleeting excitement, calling for tangible results to ensure progress.

“The political action must go beyond protest and the euphoria that it brings. It must lead to some measurable or tangible result, otherwise it becomes counterproductive,” Osinbajo stated, urging Nigeria’s elites to take the necessary steps toward nation-building.

He highlighted the significance of political change that leads to structural reforms, noting that in poor societies, every day of protest matters, as it impacts informal workers and traders who earn daily wages. “In poor societies, every day of protest is valuable because it means that the millions of informal workers and traders make a huge sacrifice,” he said.

Osinbajo further emphasized that the sacrifices made during protests should have a clear purpose, with political actions aimed at resolving societal issues that impede progress. He underscored the pivotal role of the elite in driving political change, stating that it is often the elites who have the resources and networks to craft objectives, build coalitions, and push for structural reforms that can lead to lasting improvements in society.