By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation on Saturday declared that the Governor Seyi Makinde goofed badly and advertised his gross ignorance about the legal profession when he claimed that Senator Sharafadeen Alli never practised law.
Governor Makinde made the laughable comment on Friday at a welcome reception from his annual leave, turning what should have been a solemn official engagement into a beer parlour gossip session.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity of the organisation, Bisi Oladele, Makinde only advertised his ignorance and demonstrated his bitterness with the fact that Senator Alli will be the choice of Oyo State people to succeed him in 2027.
The statement explained that Alli began his law practice as a corps member in 1987 with A. E. Enumah & Associates in Nnewi, Anambra State where he was retained for his brilliant performance as a young lawyer but was forced to return to Ibadan by his parents who preferred to have him around in Southwest Nigeria.
The statement read: “Contrary to Makinde’s ignorant assertion, Senator Sharafadeen Alli is not a portfolio lawyer. He is a thoroughbred legal practitioner.
“After his practice in Nnewi, Senator Alli practised with R. A. Sarumi & Co. Solicitors, Advocates & Notary Public, one of the most respected law firms in the old Western Region, till 1991 when he was elected as the first executive rice chairman of Ibadan North Local Government.
“Alli established his own law firm Biodun Alli & Co. in Ibadan in 1994 offering services as barristers, solicitors, company secretaries, practitioners and auctioneers. He is the principal partner in the law firm till present. In his experience of law practice, Senator Alli has handled high-profile briefs, conveyancing and corporate practice for years before answering the higher call to public service.
“This is public record, verifiable at the Nigerian Bar Association, Ibadan Branch, and at the Corporate Affairs Commission. Makinde could have done a simple check if governance had not been reduced to roadside talk.
“We ordinarily would have ignored the Governor’s pedestrian talk as another low from an office that has lost its decorum, but for the need to set the record straight and to tutor the governor on elementary law (Law 101) which he clearly needs.
“Even if Senator Alli had never seen the four walls of a courtroom, what crime would that have been?
“The Governor’s statement betrays a shocking illiteracy about what Law is. But we are happy to school him further for free:
“Law is not a shrine where you must stay forever. Once called to Bar, you are a lawyer for life. The wig and gown in the courtroom are only one of seven workplaces of a lawyer namely in the courtroom as advocate; in government as governor; minister, Attorney-General; in the boardroom as company secretary and legal adviser; in the legislature as lawmaker; in the university as lecturer and professor; in the chambers as solicitor drafting agreements; and as consultant and arbitrator.
“Senator Sharafadeen Alli has deployed his Law training to serve Oyo State as Local Government Chairman, Secretary to State Government, Chief of Staff, Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, and now as distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We urge Governor Makinde to elevate his discourse. The Office of the Governor of Oyo State is a sacred place of decorum, not a beer parlour where beer parlour gist is traded.
“Oyo people deserve issue-based engagement on the rot, debt and maladministration under his watch, not petty, jealousy-driven attacks on a man whose record dwarfs his.”
