If a man must climb a mountain to announce his potency, then he is no longer a man. What played out at Ake Palace on January 25, 2026 was not loyalty—it was panic dressed as a celebration. For a former two-term governor and senator, SIA’s decision to hire a crowd on his 68th birthday just to publicly declare support for the leader of his party was embarrassing. Powerful men do not need noise to prove relevance; only fading ones do.

Let us be clear about why this sudden devotion feels forced. SIA has a long record of working against Asiwaju. He openly blocked the Finance Minister slot in 2016 (Kemi Adeosun), the UK Ambassadorial slot in 2020 (Sarafa Isola), numerous federal appointments slated for South West between 2016 and 2022. Worked closely with Malami and co to stop Asiwaju’s emergence as the party’s Presidential candidate in 2022..

It is also no secret that SIA held meetings with El-Rufai, Atiku, Malami, Imam Kashim Imam, David Mark and others at the early stages of a coalition aimed at weakening the APC and, more importantly, stopping Asiwaju. Like others, his only demand was that power must remain in the South West. Today, with that coalition wobbling and the opposition staring at likely failure in 2027, SIA has suddenly found his voice for loyalty. Nigerians are not fooled. This is not conviction—it is political survival.

What happened at Ake Palace was a public confession of decline. SIA is no longer the power broker he once was; he is now struggling to stay relevant. His career should be taught as a warning: how arrogance, double-dealing, and poor judgment can waste influence and destroy trust. At 68, wisdom should speak louder than drums. Sadly, SIA has chosen noise over honor—and history will remember that choice.

Olufemi Oloyede writes from Abeokuta South and can be reached on  femi52yede@gmail.com