Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged that political action should go beyond the temporary energy of protests, stressing the need for real, measurable outcomes. Speaking at the Technology, New Media, Citizens, and Governance Conference (TNCG) in Lagos on Thursday, Osinbajo highlighted the challenges faced by informal workers and traders who depend on daily earnings and are often negatively affected by political unrest.

“Political action must go beyond the euphoria of protests. It needs to yield real, measurable results, or it risks being counterproductive,” Osinbajo emphasized. He expressed concern over the socio-economic impact of protests, especially for those living in economically disadvantaged communities.

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Osinbajo also pointed to the crucial role of the elite in shaping political change. He stressed that members of the elite, including civil society groups, have a responsibility to lead the charge for meaningful reforms. “The elite are key in shaping the goals of political action, articulating grievances, and pushing for reforms that lead to tangible, lasting change,” he said.

Reflecting on the growing influence of technology and social media in political mobilization, Osinbajo acknowledged their power to facilitate leaderless movements. However, he cautioned that without clear objectives or leadership, these platforms could struggle to bring about lasting change. “While technology enables protests without clear leadership, without a defined end goal, such movements can lose direction,” Osinbajo warned.