Truth, Trauma, and the Test of Public Discourse: Ogun State Pushes Back Against Healthcare Misinformation

In the aftermath of a tragic road accident that claimed lives and left emotions running high, Ogun State has found itself at the center of an intense public debate over the quality and responsiveness of its healthcare system. While grief and concern are natural reactions in moments of national shock—especially when a prominent figure is involved—political actors and public commentators are now urging restraint, accuracy, and responsibility in how the state’s institutions are portrayed.

Otunba Segun Showunmi, a notable political voice and advocate of alternative governance perspectives, has strongly cautioned against what he describes as emotion-driven narratives that distort verifiable facts. According to him, the suggestion that Ogun State lacks ambulances or functional emergency response capacity is not only misleading but unfair to the professionals working daily within the system.

“Ogun State does have ambulances. This is not conjecture,” Showunmi insists, pointing to his personal encounters with the state’s emergency vehicles being both displayed and actively deployed. He argues that it is deeply problematic to use a single tragic incident—no matter how heartbreaking—as justification to undermine collective sensibility or dismiss years of documented progress.

At the heart of the debate is the integrity of the state’s healthcare leadership. Showunmi speaks with confidence about the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, whom he describes as a consummate professional with a proven record of diligence and competence. By his account, negligence is inconsistent with both her character and her track record in public service.

Beyond individual leadership, the broader healthcare architecture under Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration has also been drawn into the conversation. Supporters of the government note that healthcare remains one of the administration’s most positively reviewed sectors, with functional primary healthcare centers across several wards in the state. These facilities, they argue, are not only operational but steadily improving in capacity and service delivery.

None of this, Showunmi emphasizes, is an attempt to silence criticism. On the contrary, constructive criticism is a cornerstone of democratic accountability. However, he warns that criticism must be anchored in truth rather than amplified by grief, speculation, or sensationalism—particularly in an age where misinformation spreads rapidly and trust in institutions is fragile.

As the state mourns those lost in the accident and offers prayers for the full recovery of “our son, Anthony Joshua,” as Showunmi affectionately puts it, the larger lesson may be about balance: honoring grief while preserving truth, demanding accountability without discarding fairness, and strengthening public discourse through facts rather than fury.

In moments of crisis, the measure of leadership—and citizenship—is not only how swiftly institutions respond, but how responsibly the public conversation is conducted. Ogun State’s healthcare journey, its advocates argue, deserves to be assessed on evidence, not emotion.