Don’t abandon NEC— Dotun Sanusi to Makinde

Following Governor Seyi Makinde’s announcement that he would no longer attend meetings of the National Economic Council (NEC), describing the meetings as a waste of time, Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi, the Okanlomo Oodua and Gbonka Olubadan of Ibadanland, has urged the governor to reconsider and prioritise the interests of Oyo State by sustaining engagement with the Federal Government.

Sanusi, in a statement on the development, said leadership at the highest level demands patience, wisdom, sacrifice and the ability to place the collective interests of the people above personal or political disagreements.

He said he had followed with considerable interest the governor’s reported remarks and noted that the development deserves thoughtful reflection rather than political confrontation.

As someone deeply committed to the progress, prosperity and dignity of Oyo State, he said the matter requires careful consideration.

Sanusi described the National Economic Council as a constitutionally established institution designed to facilitate economic cooperation, policy coordination and constructive engagement between the Federal Government and the states.

He said the council is much more than a meeting of political office-holders, noting that it provides an important platform through which the economic interests and developmental aspirations of the people can be articulated.

While acknowledging that Makinde is entitled to his convictions and has every right to express dissatisfaction with any process he considers ineffective, Sanusi maintained that leadership also requires the maturity to remain engaged with institutions, even when their decisions do not reflect one’s preferred positions.

According to him, the fundamental question should not be whether Makinde agreed or disagreed with the Federal Government, but whether adequate arrangements had been made to ensure Oyo State continues to enjoy effective representation in national economic deliberations.

He asked: “Whatever the political or administrative differences between the Governor and the Federal Government, what institutional arrangements have been made to ensure that Oyo State continues to enjoy effective representation in national economic deliberations?”

Highlighting the needs of the people, Sanusi said farmers require opportunities, young people need employment, businesses need an enabling environment, while communities deserve infrastructure, improved healthcare, quality education and sustainable economic development.

He stressed that these aspirations transcend political affiliations, personal differences and electoral considerations.

Leaders, he said, must appreciate that institutions of government are bigger than the individuals who temporarily occupy public offices, adding that while disagreement is an essential feature of democracy, constructive engagement is equally important to responsible governance.

Sanusi therefore respectfully encouraged Makinde to clarify how the interests of Oyo State are being represented at NEC and to consider the value of sustained personal participation in what he described as an important constitutional forum.

He explained that his appeal is not a call for political submission, nor an attempt to diminish the governor’s constitutional authority, but a sincere appeal for institutional cooperation, political maturity and preservation of Oyo State’s long-term interests.

He further stressed that political differences should never become barriers to the economic opportunities available to the people.

“History remembers leaders not merely for the battles they fought, but for the bridges they built, the institutions they strengthened and the opportunities they secured for generations yet unborn.

“The dignity of leadership lies not in avoiding difficult conversations, but in having the courage and wisdom to remain at the table in the service of the people,” he said.

He prayed that Almighty God would continue to guide all those entrusted with the responsibility of governing Oyo State and Nigeria.

“Oyo State must always come first. Nigeria must remain our common responsibility,” Sanusi stated.