Nigeria’s political leaders, diplomats, jurists and scholars converged in Abuja on Tuesday as veteran diplomat, Ambassador Shina Alege, delivered a strong message on leadership, insecurity and the erosion of human compassion during the launch of five books inspired by his decades in public service.
The event, attended by senior government officials, ambassadors, legal luminaries and academics, took on a reflective tone as speakers examined growing concerns over abuse of power, insecurity, weakening communal values and the moral responsibilities of leadership.
Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, who chaired the occasion, described the books as a rare blend of diplomacy, personal experience and social conscience.
“This is far beyond a literary celebration,” Ariwoola said. “It is a serious intellectual intervention into the crises confronting leadership, humanity and governance today.”
The retired jurist noted that Ambassador Alege’s perspectives carried significant weight because they were rooted in practical experience gained during critical moments in Nigeria’s diplomatic history.
“These are not theoretical arguments crafted from a distance. They are reflections forged in service, crisis and responsibility,” he stated.
At the centre of the gathering was Shina Alege, whose remarks combined philosophical reflections with sharp criticism of declining social values and leadership failures.
Addressing a packed audience of diplomats, senior lawyers, professors and public officials, the former envoy lamented what he described as the collapse of communal empathy in modern society.
“The essence of life is to build a community,” Alege said. “What we have today is no longer community — it is a crowd. People watch suffering, record tragedies on their phones, and move on. That loss of humanity is dangerous.”
His remarks drew sustained applause from participants at the event.
Using the occasion to reflect on leadership and governance, Alege warned political office holders against treating power as permanent.
Speaking on one of his books, The Expiry Date of Power, the diplomat said many leaders fail to recognise the temporary nature of authority and the inevitability of accountability.
“The only person that powers permanently is God Almighty,” he said. “Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Leadership must be exercised with restraint, accountability and conscience.”
Other books unveiled at the event addressed conflict management, insecurity and governance challenges across Africa.
According to the author, The Sirens and The Flags examines leadership during periods of crisis, while Insecurity and Regional Leadership in Africa explores the inability of many African states to effectively tackle growing instability and governance failures.
Former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, represented by Barrister Raji Ahmed, commended the diplomat for documenting lessons from years of international service, including sensitive operations involving Nigerians caught in conflict zones abroad.
“Books like these are earned through sacrifice, experience and reflection,” he said. “They preserve institutional memory and challenge future leaders to think differently about service and responsibility.”
Beyond the book presentations, the gathering evolved into a broader reflection on the state of society, with speakers repeatedly emphasising the need for empathy, moral leadership and national renewal.
For many attendees, the dominant message of the day extended beyond diplomacy and governance to a deeper appeal for the restoration of compassion and humanity in public life.
