Service Over Status: Adewale Kolapo Kareem Challenges Political Class to Civic Responsibility

​ As the discourse on sustainable development continues to dominate the political landscape, former Oyo State governorship aspirant, Adewale Kolapo Kareem, popularly known as AKK, has launched a scathing critique of the prevailing “wealth-first” political culture, urging the political elite to pivot toward a mandate of selfless service to humanity.

​In a compelling reflection on the hallmarks of impactful leadership, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain argued that the obsession with political positioning and personal accumulation of wealth is a fundamental miscalculation of success. Kareem posited that true legitimacy in governance is not derived from electoral victory or the status of one’s office, but from the tangible, positive footprint left on the lives of the citizenry.

​Drawing inspiration from the life of his late mentor, the Balogun Oniwaasi of Oyo State, Sheikh Abdul Azeez Akeusola Oloruntosin Kaanat, Kareem challenged his contemporaries to reflect on the nature of their own legacies. He warned that public figures who prioritize greed and personal interests over the welfare of the people risk being forgotten—or worse, viewed as irrelevant—the moment their tenure ends.

​The former governorship aspirant directed his challenge specifically at the political class and Nigerians residing abroad, asserting that physical distance from the homeland does not absolve anyone of their civic duty. He maintained that both domestic and diaspora Nigerians must become active partners in the development and progress of their communities, framing such contributions as an essential moral obligation.

​Beyond the political arena, Kareem issued a clarion call to parents, underscoring that the survival of the nation’s moral fabric rests on the quality of education provided to the next generation. He warned against the exclusive pursuit of Western education at the expense of religious and cultural identity, advocating for a holistic academic approach that integrates strong moral values.

​By grounding his message in the principles of integrity and communal benefit, Kareem is positioning himself at the forefront of a movement that demands more from those in positions of power. His call to action serves as a stark reminder to the political class that history does not remember the wealthy or the powerful; it remembers those who served with purpose and left behind a legacy that continues to touch lives long after they are gone.