“Things Are Not The Same Anymore,” Makinde Says He Misses Osinbajo’s Leadership As Vice President

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said he misses the leadership style of former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, noting that things are no longer the same since his exit from office.

Makinde made the remark on Saturday in Ibadan while speaking at a public event attended by Osinbajo, where he reflected on the former vice president’s role in managing Nigeria’s economic affairs as chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC).

“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,” the governor said.

He explained that Osinbajo’s leadership during NEC meetings significantly influenced key decisions he took as a new governor, particularly during the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.

“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.

“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 said.

The governor also criticised the current administration’s handling of the tax reform bills, describing the process as lacking consultation and openness.

“But 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.

Makinde further expressed concern that state governors were sidelined in decisions affecting fiscal policy.

“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,” he added.