An Ibadan-based attorney, Morohunkola Thomas, has challenged Chief Jibril Dotun Sanusi, businessman and Gbonka Olubadan of Ibadanland, to come out with specific facts and grievances behind his recent criticism of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Thomas, reacting to Sanusi’s statement titled “A Governor Surrounded by Praise Singers is on a Journey of Doom,” described the intervention as a complaint without a clearly stated grievance, arguing that serious criticism of government must be anchored on facts, identifiable policies and demonstrable evidence.
According to him, Sanusi’s allegations leave fundamental questions unanswered, including who the alleged “praise singers” surrounding the Governor are, which government policies are considered wrong and how such policies have specifically affected the people of Oyo State.
“If there are policies that are wrong, which ones? If the people are suffering specifically because of decisions taken by this government, state those decisions and show how,” Thomas said.
He further questioned what he described as the “unmistakable impression” that the real force behind the criticism had not fully emerged into the open, urging whoever has substantive grievances against the Makinde administration to personally own and articulate them.
Thomas, however, acknowledged Sanusi’s standing as an elder and stakeholder in Oyo State, stressing that he remains entitled to scrutinise and criticise the Governor and his administration.
But, he added, criticism from someone of Sanusi’s stature should “illuminate, not insinuate” by identifying what has gone wrong and proposing what should be done differently.
He also took issue with the call in Sanusi’s statement for leaders to listen to the truth, arguing that truth becomes more compelling when supported by facts and particulars.
“Those who demand courage from people in power should demonstrate the same courage in their own interventions,” Thomas stated.
While acknowledging that Governor Makinde is not beyond criticism, the lawyer insisted that any serious interrogation of the Governor’s policies, programmes and conduct must be based on evidence rather than broad warnings about “praise singers” and a supposed “journey of doom.”
Thomas also mounted a defence of the Makinde administration, saying the Governor had spent seven years implementing people-oriented programmes and projects across Oyo State, while maintaining what he described as an administration open to public scrutiny.
He said the Governor had demonstrated respect for elders while giving younger people their due place in governance, adding that the administration’s record should be subjected to objective public assessment.
In a pointed closing challenge, Thomas called on the “real author or authors” of the criticism, if any, to come forward and clearly state their grievances against the Governor.
“What exactly has Governor Makinde done? What precisely is the complaint?” he asked.
“If there is a song to sing, let the masquerade come out and sing it in the open.”
Thomas maintained that Oyo State deserves a political debate conducted “in daylight,” rather than vague allegations that, in his words, are “too vague to bear the signature of a war chief.”
“A Gbonka should not fire arrows into the fog. He should state clearly his mission,” the lawyer declared.
