The Oyo State Government has dismissed claims by businessman Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi that the state has been absent from meetings of the National Economic Council (NEC), insisting that Governor Seyi Makinde has formally designated his deputy, Barrister Bayo Lawal, to represent the state at the council’s meetings.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, described Sanusi’s allegation as a reflection of ignorance of the procedures governing representation at the NEC, maintaining that Oyo State had remained actively represented at the council.
Olanrewaju, in a statement issued on Thursday, October 15, 2026, said Makinde had formally notified the Vice President, who chairs the NEC, of the arrangement for Lawal to represent the state at its meetings.
He explained that the arrangement was consistent with established procedures, which allow states to be represented by either their governors or deputy governors.
“Oyo State has never been unrepresented, and any suggestion to the contrary is incorrect,” the statement read.
“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.”
The governor’s aide argued that Sanusi’s claim that Oyo State had been missing from NEC deliberations because Makinde did not personally attend every meeting was baseless.
According to him, the effectiveness of a state’s participation should not be judged solely by the physical presence of its governor but by the quality of representation, the issues advanced and the benefits secured for the state.
Olanrewaju disclosed that Lawal had consistently attended NEC meetings since 2025, contributing to deliberations and protecting Oyo State’s interests.
He added that the state’s Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning also participated in the council’s engagements, providing technical support to complement the deputy governor’s representation.
“This combination of political and technical representation guarantees that Oyo State’s voice is heard and its submissions are backed by the required expertise,” he said.
The media aide explained that the NEC served as a strategic platform for intergovernmental engagement, policy coordination and access to federal development initiatives, investment opportunities and development financing.
He noted that deliberations at the council covered critical sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, human capital development, digital enterprise, food security and climate resilience.
According to him, Oyo State’s participation in such engagements is essential to advancing its development priorities and strengthening collaboration with the Federal Government and development partners.
He maintained that the state had neither missed any opportunity nor forfeited any benefit as a result of Makinde’s decision to delegate representation to his deputy.
“It is evident that Chief Sanusi either does not fully understand NEC operational procedures or has chosen to ignore established practice,” Olanrewaju stated.
“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.”
Olanrewaju also questioned the political context of Sanusi’s comments, alleging that the businessman’s recent open support for a political candidate raised questions about the motivation behind his criticism.
He said Sanusi’s remarks could not be divorced from his political leanings, adding that public criticism of government activities should be based on verifiable facts, particularly when it concerns governance and institutional procedures.
“Criticism that ignores institutional procedures and verifiable records does not enlighten the public; it misleads them,” he said.
The governor’s aide insisted that the state’s interests should take precedence over political considerations, arguing that the relevant issues were whether Oyo State was represented, whether its interests were being advanced and what benefits its people stood to gain.
“On all counts, Oyo State has fulfilled its obligations and secured its entitlements,” he said.
He added that the Makinde administration would not allow what he described as conjecture and political spin to overshadow its efforts to protect the state’s interests.
“Oyo State’s record at the National Economic Council speaks for itself: present, active, and consistently advancing the interests of its people,” Olanrewaju said.
He reaffirmed that the state had been fully represented at NEC meetings, with its voice heard and interests protected, dismissing Sanusi’s allegation as misleading.