NACLFON: The Road To Abuja Rally Is Not Lined With Bread And Butter-Olalere Fagbola

A pivotal moment in history comes to my mind as I reflect on Shakespearian Mark Antony, a master class in rhetoric, wherein he charged the crowd: ‘Are you now moved, ye stones, to be so rude to Caesar’s body? Ye are not wood, ye are not stones, but men; and, being men, hearing the bloody speech of Caesar, it should have made unreasonable men reasonable, and rebellious men do service to their country’.

As we look towards our Abuja rally that is scheduled to hold on April 18, 2026, there comes a moment of truth when we must remind ourselves that times like this demand Critical Engagement and Constructive Feedback because:

‘The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge’.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the National President of  National APC Christian Leaders Forum of Nigeria (NACLFON), our own Professor Olanrewaju Abraham, personifies Excellence and Exceptional Leadership, and he is highly dedicated to the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, walking this path courageously with him is actually the demand of this critical moment.

When Jesus Christ left the divine Galilee land for Jerusalem, the political capital city, the multitude thought the road would always be a chorus of ‘Hosanna’, until it dawned on the real disciples that it was a moment to challenge discipleship in spirituality rather than to rest on the arm of flesh where swords and cudgels dictated governance.

Nevertheless, one cannot but warn against the danger of superficiality wherein men, at a moment like this, may be given to playing the proverbial bourgeoisie and the proverbial patron, the kind of fellows we are not going to be. The bourgeoisie is often seen as outwardly beautiful and eminently presentable, but wormy inside, and going soggy at moments when challenges of the moment ought to bring out the heroic manliness in him. The proverbial patron, in the same vein, is also prone to looking away and being unconcerned at his leader struggling right in a crocodile-infested pool, even in the battle of life, only to garland him with an embrace as soon as his leader emerges unhurt at the other end of the pool.

 The road to Abuja Rally is not going to be lined with bread and butter. When I see a man who gives politics a fresh air, allowing philanthropy to coexist with a master class mentorship, I know I have seen Professor Olanrewaju Abraham, who has offered scholarships to no fewer than four thousand Africans, with his charity beginning from Nigeria.

A graduate of HBI University, like hundreds of others who appreciated his developmental strides, once wrote in testimony: ‘I just want to personally thank you, Sir, for the opportunity you opened to me. I acquired my National Diploma in Accounting since 1998 and returned for my Higher National Diploma in Accounting in 2009 and acquired HND in Accounting in 2013. Since then, I couldn’t go for my Master’s degree Programme due to financial constraints being faced by my husband and I could only invest in managing to sponsor our children. I am, however, grateful, Sir, for allowing God to use you to sponsor me and give me the opportunity to enroll for my Master’s degree programme. May God continue to bless and keep you and your household. May you, your wife, and children never lack help in Jesus Christ’s Mighty Name. Amen. Thank you very much, Sir’.

 Now, wait for it: Professor Olanrewaju Abraham is never given to tears for not winning government contracts or patronage.

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‘I am often moved to tears of joy as I read the words of our beneficiaries. I give Jesus all the glory’ he responded.

 My next episode is going to unveil, among us, the identity of a devout Muslim and a foremost Nationalist who has, like no other, been responding in critical engagement and constructive feedback to NACLFON’s vision.

 Reader’s curiosity about the identity of this Muslim (Yes, a Muslim, You read me right) an Elder statesman and an APC stalwart, will remain unsatisfied for now till we get to Abuja, when facts on the curtain-raiser of his cotton-edge attainments will unzip for our reading pleasure-Mr Olalere Fagbola, who is the National Publicity Secretary of  NACLFON, writes from Abuja