Dear Muftau Gbadegesin,
Your recent commentary on Governor Seyi Makinde’s appointment of Ms. Neo Tlhaselo and references to my person contained a number of misleading assumptions that call for clarification — not for my sake alone, but in the interest of truth, balanced public discourse, and the respect Ibadan indigenes deserve.
First, I must remind you — and indeed the general public — that I, Professor Daud Kehinde Sangodoyin, am a proud son of Ibadanland, born into the reputable Sangodoyin family. My late father, High Chief L.A. Sangodoyin, was the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland, a position of high honour and ancestral lineage. My roots run deep in the soil of Oyo State, and my commitment to its growth and development is not up for question.
Before my invitation to serve under the present administration, I had built a strong academic and professional track record across continents, including in Nigeria, Botswana, and the UK. My time at the University of Botswana was a chapter in a long, distinguished academic career that spans over 30 years. I returned to serve my people, not for privilege, but for purpose — to give back the knowledge, experience, and global exposure I had acquired.
You implied I was “plucked” from Botswana, as though I were an outsider foisted upon Oyo State. That is simply false and disrespectful, not just to me, but to the entire Ibadan traditional institution and its many accomplished sons and daughters around the world. It is equally misleading to suggest that being globally exposed somehow invalidates my deep roots or capacity to contribute meaningfully to our state’s development.
Regarding the appointment of Ms. Tlhaselo, it is the governor’s prerogative to assemble a team he deems capable of helping him deliver on his mandate. Appointments are not about sentiments or geographic origin, but about competence, networks, and vision alignment. AfCFTA is a continental initiative, and having someone with cross-border understanding of trade dynamics is a strategic choice, not a betrayal of local talent.
Rather than demonize efforts to position Oyo State on the international map, we should be asking how best to leverage such opportunities — how to build capacity, open new markets, and attract investment for the benefit of our people. Governance in the 21st century requires courage to do things differently, and not every innovation deserves cynical interpretation.
I welcome constructive criticism, but I encourage you and others to exercise such influence responsibly, and with adequate knowledge of the facts. It serves no one to stir public sentiment with half-truths or to diminish the efforts of those who, regardless of background, are committed to a better Oyo State.
Let us rise above divisiveness and engage on the basis of facts, context, and a shared vision for progress.
Yours sincerely,
Prof. Daud Kehinde Sangodoyin
Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources,
Oyo State Government
Proud Son of Ibadanland
