Madam 1st Lady @SenRemiTinubu, take note re: birthday fundraiser. When Opposition Becomes Empty Noise Why genuine acts of service deserve both commendation and accountability Opposition is vital in any democracy, but when it is reduced to opposing everything for its own sake, it becomes empty noise. Those who claim to speak for the people must remember that they are not a “new order.” Their past records exist, and the public can weigh them against today’s realities. The facts are not kind. Take, for instance, her decision to dedicate her birthday to reviving an abandoned educational project. In a society where public figures often choose extravagance over impact, such an initiative is worth recognition. At the very least, critics could have maintained silence. Instead, they rushed to dismiss it—revealing not strength, but the shallowness of their own arguments. Yet, beyond the celebration lies a critical question: where did the donations come from? Philanthropy in public life always demands scrutiny. There is a thin line between genuine generosity and unethical influence peddling. In other parts of the world, leaders have gone to jail for crossing that line. That is why transparency is not an option; it is a necessity. We must therefore find balance. Good initiatives should be acknowledged, even applauded. But accountability must never be compromised. The public deserves both hope and honesty. Anything less will only deepen distrust and weaken the credibility of those in public life—whether they are in power or in opposition. Otunba Segun Showunmi The Alternative

Madam 1st Lady @SenRemiTinubu, take note re: birthday fundraiser. When Opposition Becomes Empty Noise Why genuine acts of service deserve both commendation and accountability Opposition is vital in any democracy, but when it is reduced to opposing everything for its own sake, it becomes empty noise. Those who claim to speak for the people must remember that they are not a “new order.” Their past records exist, and the public can weigh them against today’s realities. The facts are not kind. Take, for instance, her decision to dedicate her birthday to reviving an abandoned educational project. In a society where public figures often choose extravagance over impact, such an initiative is worth recognition. At the very least, critics could have maintained silence. Instead, they rushed to dismiss it—revealing not strength, but the shallowness of their own arguments. Yet, beyond the celebration lies a critical question: where did the donations come from? Philanthropy in public life always demands scrutiny. There is a thin line between genuine generosity and unethical influence peddling. In other parts of the world, leaders have gone to jail for crossing that line. That is why transparency is not an option; it is a necessity. We must therefore find balance. Good initiatives should be acknowledged, even applauded. But accountability must never be compromised. The public deserves both hope and honesty. Anything less will only deepen distrust and weaken the credibility of those in public life—whether they are in power or in opposition. Otunba Segun Showunmi The Alternative