Ahmed Raji, SAN: Commend Makinde Without Throwing Jab At Progressives | Yusuf Olatunji Alabi

A respectable person maintains his respect even in the face of political rancour. Politics may divide people along party lines, but it should not take away the respect and maturity expected of people who have attained certain positions in society.

The statement credited to Alhaji Ahmed Raji, SAN, a respected legal luminary and elder statesman in Oyo politics, during the recent event in Iseyin, where he commended Governor Makinde for his administration’s developmental efforts, deserves a second thought.

Nobody would begrudge the senior advocate his right to appreciate the governor for the projects his administration has delivered in Oke Ogun.

However, his statement that the progressives could not give the people what Governor Makinde has given them raises questions about the need to introduce partisan politics into an occasion meant to celebrate community development, contribution, and philanthropy.

As a respected elder, one would expect him to note the sensitivity of such a statement, particularly at a gathering attended by people from different political backgrounds.

It is very disappointing and insensitive to make such a statement at such a gathering.

It is even more concerning when one considers the APC members who honoured the invitation, including the Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, who travelled a considerable distance to attend the event, alongside other progressive leaders and associates.

These are people who came to honour an invitation and celebrate an occasion. Whatever their political differences, they deserve the same courtesy and respect extended to everyone present. One would therefore expect that the occasion would not become an opportunity to throw jabs that could be interpreted as ridiculing the political family with which some of the guests are associated.

With due respect to the Senior Advocate, there is a difference between appreciating Governor Makinde and making a sweeping statement that appears to dismiss the contributions of an entire political tradition.

Baba Ahmed Raji could have commended the governor without taking a swipe at the progressives, with whom he has also shared political associations.

The progressives Baba was using to score points with Governor Makinde had done a lot in Oke Ogun before the emergence of the current administration.

For the record, the Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, became an autonomous institution during the administration of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi. Similarly, the development of the Iseyin sugar factory has involved substantial investment from the Federal Government through the National Sugar Development Council, alongside contributions from the Oyo State Government.

These are facts that remind us that development is not always the product of one administration or one political party alone, which Baba should know clearly.

This is not to deny Governor Makinde the credit due to his administration. Rather, it is to emphasise that acknowledging the achievements of the present should not require dismissing the contributions of the past.

As an elder statesman and a senior advocate of Nigeria, his words carry weight. His standing in society makes it possible for him to commend the government of the day while maintaining the respect and cordiality expected among people of different political affiliations.

Politics is transient, and political affiliations may change, but mutual respect should remain.

If Baba is going to start and tread the path of this kind of politics, he should be ready for counter-jabs. Nobody has a monopoly on throwing swipes. Just as Governor Makinde warned the Obas to steer clear of politics to preserve their respect, political statements are questions that come with no boundaries when it comes to political responses.

By: Yusuf Olatunji Alabi

(Yusuf Olatunji Alabi is a political observer and social critic passionate about accountability and good governance in Nigeria).