By Maroof Asudemade

Governor Seyi Makinde has uncovered another porous weapon in his desperate political campaign against Senator Sharafadeen Alli: mocking him for allegedly not appearing in court despite being a lawyer. Before Makinde turns the courtroom into a political theatre, perhaps he should take a good look at the legal practitioners inside his government.

This issue is not about whether Alli regularly appears in court (nor is it any attempt to defend his professional record). Litigation is only one facet of legal practice, after all, and a lawyer does not have to appear in court to remain relevant and productive in the profession.

The real issue, as far as the governor is concerned, is the glaring hypocrisy of why ridicule Alli over an alleged professional shortcoming when some of his appointees are reportedly in the same position? Two particularly notable examples are his Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, and the Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Nureni Adeniran – both are lawyers, and both were reportedly present when Makinde made the remarks mocking Alli over his alleged absence from the courtroom.

What were their thoughts as their principal ridiculed a fellow lawyer over a practice they themselves have reportedly not actively pursued? Did they feel embarrassed when they were indirectly ridiculed? Did it feel awkward being in the company of a man who apparently thinks his deputy and SUBEB boss are incompetent but good enough to occupy such a position in the Oyo State government?

The irony of the governor’s comments is difficult to miss: he was apparently so eager to score political points against Alli that he failed to understand how his remarks would reflect on the lawyers serving in his own administration. If not appearing in court is a professional deficiency worth public mockery, why should the same standard not apply to his deputy and SUBEB chairman? Does Makinde use a double standard in which the alleged shortcomings of his opponents are weapons of ridicule while similar circumstances involving his loyalists are conveniently ignored?

A governor cannot preach professional standards to his political opponents while pretending not to see the same alleged deficiencies among his own appointees. This is exactly where Makinde’s argument falls flat on its face. His criticism does not prove that Alli is an incompetent lawyer; it just shows the inconsistency of using appearances in court as a political weapon without applying the same measure to members of his own team.

More importantly, the governor needs to explain what relevance this argument has to the serious business of governing Oyo State. At a time when residents expect solutions to challenges in education, healthcare, security and infrastructure, should the governor not be talking about policy, performance and the future of the state, rather than personal mockery of courtroom appearances?

Political debate should be about competence, character, ideas and measurable achievements, not selective ridicule designed to entertain supporters. Makinde must realize that being governor does not give him a licence to disparage political opponents without inviting a wave of scrutiny on his own conduct. The higher the office, the greater the responsibility to demonstrate fairness and consistency.