Opinion: Honouring a presidential invite isn't a crime — it's a civic duty

In a time when political polarisation threatens the very soul of national discourse, it has become increasingly essential to reaffirm the basic tenets of civic duty and democratic engagement.

One such principle, often lost in the sea of online outrage and partisan commentary, is the importance of honouring the office of the President, regardless of the personality holding it.

The recent backlash against Nigerian chess champion and global literacy advocate Tunde Onakoya for visiting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an unfortunate reminder of how deeply suspicion, tribalism, and partisan loyalty have clouded our collective sense of patriotism.

Onakoya’s visit, which many misconstrued as political alignment, was simply a civic interaction with the nation’s Commander-in-Chief.

In defending his decision, Onakoya stated, “I have no interest in partisan politics. Visiting the President is not a crime.”

His statement should have ended the controversy, but it didn’t. Instead, critics labelled him a sellout, betraying a worrying tendency in contemporary Nigeria: to conflate patriotism with blind political allegiance.

Let us be clear — honouring a presidential invitation does not amount to endorsing a political party. It is a civic obligation to engage with leadership when given the opportunity, especially when that engagement can foster national unity, support social development, or influence policy.

Rejecting such interactions based on ethnicity, religion, or political bias undercuts the very values of a functional democracy.

Actor and activist Mr Macaroni also waded into the conversation, revealing that he has rejected similar invitations from the current administration and others in the past.

While his personal boundaries deserve respect, they must not be used as a means to shame those who choose differently. Choosing to engage is not a lesser form of activism — it is simply another approach to the same goal.

History offers numerous examples of non-partisan figures engaging with national leaders for the greater good.

In 1955, African-American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. met with U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and later with Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. These meetings were not endorsements; they were strategic engagements designed to influence national policy on civil rights.

Similarly, in post-apartheid South Africa, Nelson Mandela invited former oppressors and political opponents into his administration under the banner of reconciliation, not as an act of submission, but as a demonstration of moral courage and inclusive governance.

In the Nigerian context, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has met with various presidents, from Obasanjo to Buhari, despite publicly disagreeing with many of them.

His engagements were never viewed as partisan because Nigerians, at the time, respected intellectuals who acted in the national interest. That culture of respect is dangerously eroding.

More recently, Segun Showunmi, a known ally of Atiku Abubakar, visited President Tinubu and described the visit as a meaningful conversation. He controversially stated that Tinubu is “smarter than Peter Obi and others.”

Whether one agrees or not, his opinion should not trigger political excommunication. That is the price of democracy — the freedom to speak and engage.

Ayo Fayose, the outspoken former Ekiti State governor and long-time critic of APC politics, has also praised President Tinubu’s economic efforts, stating that “he deserves encouragement.” Fayose has built a reputation for independent thinking.

If leaders like him are demonised for acknowledging improvements in governance, what message are we sending to future reformers?

Essence of patriotism

The essence of patriotism is to prioritise national interest over personal or party loyalty. True patriots rise above the politics of bitterness. They do not view governance through the prism of tribe, religion, or ideology alone; they understand the nation as a shared project.

Democracy thrives not only on opposition and criticism but also on engagement, negotiation and compromise.

Furthermore, the presidency is a national institution, not the property of a political party. It embodies the collective will of the electorate, even if the outcome is contested.

As long as the office is legitimate under law, respecting and engaging with it is a duty, not a crime. In this light, Tunde Onakoya’s visit should be celebrated, not condemned.

He represents a generation of young Nigerians breaking boundaries, and if such an individual is invited to the seat of power to discuss how his initiatives can be supported or expanded, the nation benefits.

Even if no concrete policies emerge from the meeting, the symbolism matters. It reminds young Nigerians that their efforts are recognised, regardless of who occupies Aso Rock.

For Nigeria to progress, we must end the culture of public lynching of those who dare to engage. We must encourage civic dialogue without suspicion and welcome every Nigerian, whether an activist, entertainer, entrepreneur, or academic, to present their ideas to national leadership.

Patriotism is not about who you oppose; it is about what you build. It is about choosing the national interest over divisive politics. It is about recognising that the President of Nigeria, whatever he or she may be, is the President of us all.

Ultimately, history will not remember who visited the president. It will remember what we did with the opportunity. Engagement is not betrayal. Informed, non-partisan dialogue is not a weakness. And above all, honouring a presidential invitation is not a crime — it is an act of national maturity.