The recent disclosure by Governor Seyi Makinde, following Governor Fayose’s exposé left me scratching my head. When choosing spokespersons, every leader must think of someone who understands rhetoric, nuance with sprinkles of philosophy. It is not just knowing how to speak or write. No matter how good you are as a leader, you need to be groomed with healthy talking points before facing the press or issuing a statement. This morning, I read Simbo Olorunfemi’s update on Seyi Makinde’s media chat and I was very educated. He may be telling the truth about the money, but does that need to be said, and in that way? How has the one million dollar contract he got eons ago helped his argument? That was an ugly media outing. What came to my mind after reading the update was the famous Voltaire quote – “Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said”. I felt I should share the lessons of this quote from Voltaire with you all because it has guide me in my private and public life.
This quote is a tight summary of moral restraint in speech. It is not an argument for deceit. It is an argument for judgment. At the first level, the quote sets a clear ethical floor. Whatever one chooses to say must be true. Falsehood poisons trust, and once trust is broken, especially in public life, it is almost impossible to rebuild. Truthfulness is non-negotiable. Voltaire draws that line firmly. The second part is where the real difficulty lies. Not every truth deserves expression at every time, in every place, or by every person. Facts can be true and still be harmful, premature, cruel, destabilizing, or self-serving when spoken without care. Wisdom, not just honesty, is required to decide what should be said, when, and how.
In leadership, this distinction is critical. A leader has access to sensitive truths: private conversations, security information, internal disagreements, raw assessments of people and institutions. To disclose all of this simply because it is “true” would be reckless. It can endanger lives, damage institutions, destroy morale, or inflame divisions. Leadership speech is not a diary. It is an instrument, and like any powerful instrument, it must be handled responsibly. At the same time, Voltaire’s warning cuts both ways. “Not everything true should be said” must never become an excuse for systematic silence, manipulation, or cowardice. Leaders often hide behind “discretion” when what they are really protecting is themselves. The ethical test is intent and consequence. Is the truth being withheld to prevent harm and allow proper process, or to avoid accountability and preserve power? Upright leadership requires the courage to speak difficult truths when silence would perpetuate injustice or deception.
In public life, this balance shows up in moments of crisis. Saying everything immediately may cause panic; saying nothing may cause suspicion and rumor to grow. The responsible leader speaks truthfully, but selectively, guided by the public good rather than personal comfort. Transparency is not the same as indiscriminate disclosure. It is honesty shaped by responsibility. For the ordinary citizen, the quote is equally demanding. Social life is full of truths that can wound without improving anything.
One may know a painful fact about a friend, a harsh opinion about a colleague, or an unfiltered judgment about someone’s failure. Speaking such truths without compassion or purpose often satisfies ego rather than justice. Voltaire reminds us that moral speech asks not only “Is it true?” but also “Is it necessary?” and “Is it kind or constructive?” In the age of social media, this insight is even more urgent. The ease of speaking has outpaced the habit of thinking. True information, stripped of context and flung into the public square, can destroy reputations and harden divisions. The quote challenges citizens to slow down, to resist the thrill of exposure, and to practice restraint as a civic virtue. Ultimately, Voltaire is arguing for the union of truth and wisdom. Truth without wisdom becomes cruelty or chaos. Wisdom without truth becomes manipulation. The upright citizen and the responsible leader must hold both together: committed to truth, disciplined in speech, and guided by a sense of responsibility to others. In that sense, the quote is not about silence. It is about moral maturity. It asks us to recognize that speech is an ethical act, and that the highest form of integrity lies not just in saying what is true, but in knowing when truth serves the common good and when restraint is the more honorable choice.
I’m pained by Governor Makinde’s disclosure. Those affected by the blast lost everything. I know someone who insured her premises but was told her insurance covered only fire and burglary not explosion. How do you insure with explosion in mind? The good that can come out of this is for Governor Makindle to give at least N200m to those who lost their homes to the blast.
