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‘Why I Miss Osinbajo as Vice President’ – Makinde Speaks on Leadership Style
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Governor links COVID response in Oyo to Osinbajo’s guidance
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Makinde criticises current handling of tax bill controversy
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said he misses the leadership style of former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, while criticising the current administration’s handling of the controversial tax bill.
Makinde made the remarks on Saturday while speaking at the 60th birthday celebration of Samson Ajetomobi, President of The Men of Issachar Vision Incorporated and Overseer of Redemption Faith Churches, held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Osinbajo was among the dignitaries present at the event.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that addressing the former vice president directly, Makinde expressed admiration for his approach to leadership during his time in office.
“Sir, I personally miss you in that position,” the governor said.
He, however, clarified that his comments were not intended as a political statement.
“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,” he added.
Makinde recalled that Osinbajo’s leadership played a key role in shaping Oyo State’s response during the early stages of the COVID 19 pandemic.
According to the governor, he had been in office for just about seven months when the crisis broke out in February 2020. He recounted a critical meeting of the National Economic Council, which Osinbajo chaired at the time.
“There was COVID, and we came in for the National Economic Council meeting. It was a hot meeting; the chairman of the council came in, and a few of my colleagues. They came in and said we should all go back and lock down our state,” Makinde said.
He explained that Osinbajo’s leadership influenced Oyo State’s decision not to enforce a full lockdown during the pandemic.
“So, for Oyo State people, why I did not lock down during COVID was because of his decision,” he stated.
Makinde contrasted Osinbajo’s openness to dialogue with what he described as the present administration’s reluctance to accommodate differing views on policy issues, citing the tax bill as an example.
“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,’ but you cannot speak truth to power in this dispensation; the tax bill will go ahead,” he said.
The governor has consistently opposed President Bola Tinubu’s tax reforms, arguing that they place additional hardship on ordinary citizens. In September, he withheld assent to a related tax bill passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly, citing concerns over its impact on residents amid prevailing economic challenges.
