*Govt Raps Ibadan Chief Over Comments On NEC Representation
By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
Oyo State governorship candidate of opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), Olooye Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke, has admonished politicians and their supporters not to scare away the electorate through thuggery and violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Olooye Adegoke stated this while fielding questions from journalists at Dominion Radio and Television, calling on political parties and their candidates to talk to their supporters and followers to allow peace to reign, just as he stressed that thuggery and violence would scare away voters.
He warned that no member of any political party could singlehandedly bring the candidates to government, saying they would need the people, the electorate, to win elections.
Recall that on Wednesday, members of Accord Party in the state clashed with some hoodlums at Molete area of Ibadan, the state capital, leading to the death of one person, while many sustained various degrees of injuries – a situation which also caused panic among residents of the area.
Also, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged that its convoy was attacked by political thugs in Ibadan few weeks ago.
The Oyo ADC governorship candidate said part of the problem was the high rate of youth unemployment, noting that the majority of the state population was made up of youths that were not gainfully employed, promising that when he gets to power, he would provide jobs for them.
He called on all candidates in the 2027 elections in Oyo State to ensure that they maintained and allowed peace to reign.
Adegoke also called on political leaders to measure what they say at campaigns, saying they should avoid hate speech, but simply tell the people what they wanted to do and how they wanted to achieve same.
“Anytime I go out for campaign, I don’t go out with thugs. I don’t like violence, I don’t support violence. I preach peace always. We should talk to our supporters, our followers to allow peace to reign.
“We should not scare away the electorate, because without them, we cannot win elections. We cannot win election with our party members alone; we need the people.
“If our youth are fully engaged, they will not be available for thuggery and violence. I want to appeal to my colleagues that we should not allow people to turn Oyo State to an avenue for attacks, an avenue for thuggery, where hoodlums will reign supreme. We don’t want that in Oyo State.
“Our campaign should be issue-based. We should not incite the people. We should measure what we say. Don’t attack one another. Tell the electorate what you want to do and let them judge you.
“That is why I said my agenda is summarised in nine points – ‘Solutions.’ So, tell people what you want to do and avoid hate speech,” Olooye Adegoke cautioned.
Oyo Raps Ibadan Chief Over Comments On NEC Representation
In another development, Oyo State government has faulted revered Ibadan chief, Dotun Sanusi, on his submission about the National Economic Council (NEC), saying no gap exists in representation at the council.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said Chief Sanusi’s claim ignored procedures governing states’ representation at the NEC.
“The claim by Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi that Oyo State has been absent from National Economic Council (NEC) meetings is based on assumptions, rather than facts and knowledge. It ignores the documented procedures that govern state representation at the NEC.
“Oyo State has never been unrepresented; and any suggestion to the contrary is incorrect. Governor Seyi Makinde has already explained that he formally notified the Vice President, who chairs the NEC, that the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, would, henceforth, represent the state at council meetings.
“This arrangement ensures continuity, compliance, and full participation. NEC guidelines explicitly allow states to be represented by either the Governor or the Deputy Governor, and many states routinely adopt this practice.
“Chief Sanusi’s assertion that Oyo State has been missing from NEC deliberations simply because the governor did not personally attend every meeting is, therefore, baseless.
“The benefits of Oyo State’s participation in NEC go far beyond physical attendance at meetings. NEC provides a strategic platform for intergovernmental engagement, policy coordination, access to federal development initiatives, and the identification of opportunities for investment and development financing.
“Its deliberations cover critical areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, human capital development, digital enterprise, food security, and climate resilience.
“For a state like Oyo, these engagements are essential for advancing its development priorities, strengthening collaboration with the Federal Government and development partners, and positioning the state to benefit from relevant national programmes.
“The effectiveness of participation should, therefore, be assessed not merely by the physical presence of the governor at meetings, but by the quality of representation, the issues advanced, the opportunities identified, and the tangible benefits secured for the state.
“Since 2025, the Deputy Governor has consistently attended NEC meetings, contributed to deliberations, and safeguarded Oyo State’s interests. In addition, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning participates as part of the statutory technical support to the state.
“This combination of political and technical representation guarantees that Oyo State’s voice is heard and its submissions are backed by the required expertise. Any claim to the contrary disregards the structure and purpose of the NEC.
“It is evident that Chief Sanusi either does not fully understand NEC operational procedures or has chosen to ignore established practice. For clarity, NEC meetings may be attended by either the Governor or the Deputy Governor, and the effectiveness of a state’s participation is determined by the quality of its representation, not by who occupies the seat.
“Judging Oyo State’s participation solely by whether the Governor personally attends NEC meetings is misleading. Such a narrow view overlooks established practice, the technical processes that underpin NEC engagements, and the tangible benefits Oyo State continues to secure through its active involvement.
“The state has not missed any opportunity, forfeited any benefit, or been sidelined in any way.
“It is also important to place Chief Sanusi’s comments in proper context. Although a businessman, he has recently taken overt political positions, including openly supporting a candidate. His remarks are, therefore, not altruistic and cannot be separated from his political leanings.
“While citizens are free to express opinions, those opinions must be grounded in facts, especially when they concern matters of governance. Criticism that ignores institutional procedures and verifiable records does not enlighten the public; it misleads them.
“Oyo State’s interests must take precedence over political point-scoring. The relevant questions are straightforward: Is the state represented? Are its interests being advanced? What benefits accrue to its people? On all counts, Oyo State has fulfilled its obligations and secured its entitlements. Attempts to distort this reality for political effect do a disservice to the public and undermine informed discourse.
“Oyo State’s record at the NEC speaks for itself: Present, active, and consistently advancing the interests of its people. No amount of political spin or misinformed commentary can erase that reality. The Makinde-led administration will not allow narratives built on conjecture to overshadow verifiable facts or undermine the work being done on behalf of the state.
“Oyo State has been fully represented; its voice has been heard, and its interests have been protected at every NEC meeting. That is the truth, and it stands firm regardless of who chooses to ignore it,” Olanrewaju said.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Olooye Adegoke.
