Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi, Okanlomo Odua and Gbonka Olubadan of Ibadanland, has cautioned Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, against surrounding himself with praise singers and sycophants, urging him to embrace constructive criticism and listen to the concerns of the people.
Sanusi, in a public statement on Tuesday, said leaders risk losing touch with reality when they surround themselves with people who only applaud their decisions and are unwilling to tell them the truth.
According to him, governance should not be treated as “a theatre for endless applause,” stressing that leadership is fundamentally a responsibility to the people.
He urged the governor to have advisers and officials who are courageous enough to point out when policies are not working and when citizens are experiencing hardship.
“A wise Governor must have people around him who can say, ‘Sir, this policy is wrong.’ He must have advisers who can say, ‘The people are suffering.’ He must have officials courageous enough to say, ‘This project is not working’,” he said.
Sanusi warned that a situation where every criticism is interpreted as hatred and every opposing voice is regarded as an enemy could lead to the isolation of a leader from the realities of the people.
He acknowledged the programmes and initiatives of the Makinde administration, noting that the governor’s performance would ultimately be judged not by the number of speeches, ceremonies, awards or praises received, but by the condition in which he leaves the people and institutions of Oyo State.
The respected traditional Chief said his message was not motivated by hatred, but by a sense of responsibility to the state, stressing that Oyo belongs to all its residents.
He said the concerns of traders battling the rising cost of living, farmers facing insecurity and increasing production costs, workers experiencing declining purchasing power, young people seeking opportunities, parents struggling to educate their children and communities demanding better infrastructure and social services should not be drowned out by political praise.
“A government that hears only applause eventually mistakes applause for reality. That is a dangerous journey,” Sanusi said.
He called on the governor to welcome independent voices, strengthen institutions, encourage constructive criticism and create an atmosphere where competent people can freely tell him the truth without fear.
Sanusi further stressed that no leader or administration was beyond criticism, adding that political achievements should never be placed above the welfare of the people.
“As an elder of Ibadanland and a stakeholder in the future of Oyo State, I have no interest in destroying anybody. My interest is in ensuring that the State does not lose its way,” he said.
He urged political leaders and citizens to prioritise truth over flattery, performance over propaganda, accountability over personality cults and public service over political celebration.
Sanusi clarified that he was not calling on anyone to hate the governor but was urging him to listen beyond those who constantly praise him.
He said political power was temporary, while the consequences and legacy of governance could endure for generations.
Sanusi concluded by calling on all stakeholders to allow truth, conscience and the voice of the people to guide governance in Oyo State, stressing that “power has an expiry date, but legacy does not.”
Signed:
Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi
Okanlomo Odua / Gbonka Olubadan
