Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying it has become difficult to speak truth to power under the current government.
Makinde made the remarks on Saturday while speaking at a function in Ibadan, where he contrasted the present situation with what he described as a more consultative and open approach during the tenure of late President Muhammadu Buhari.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, whose leadership style Makinde said he deeply missed.
“You cannot speak truth to power in this dispensation,” Makinde said, faulting the Tinubu administration’s handling of the tax reform bills.
“We had the same situation in this dispensation; it was the tax bill, and we said, ‘Look, bring the tax bill; bring it back; let us all have an opportunity to look dispassionately at it,’” he said.
According to the governor, concerns raised by state leaders were ignored.
“They said the tax bill will go ahead. It is an affront for even the governors to be saying that what the presidency has done to send the tax bill to the National Assembly. The tax bill, we don’t know what was passed at the National Assembly, we don’t also know what was signed up. When I say I miss you, I miss you so much sir,” Makinde added, addressing Osinbajo.
The governor also reflected on Osinbajo’s role as chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC), noting that his leadership influenced Oyo State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I remember I was barely seven months into the position of the governor of Oyo State, and that was my very first public service job. And we had a crisis in the country; this was February 2020,” Makinde recalled.
“There was COVID, and we came in for the National Economic Council meeting. It was a hot meeting; the chairman of the council (Osinbajo) came in, and a few of my colleagues. I wasn’t sure whether they held a meeting before that meeting, but they came in and said we should all go back and lock down our state. So, for Oyo State people, why I did not lock down during COVID was because of his decision.”
Makinde concluded by expressing personal admiration for Osinbajo’s leadership, saying, “Sir, I personally miss you in that position (presidency). A lot of people may not know why things are not really the same. It’s not a political talk because I’m not on that podium.”
