‘I Miss You As Vice President’ – Makinde Tells Osinbajo

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday said he misses former Vice‑President Yemi Osinbajo’s leadership style, even as he criticised the current administration’s handling of the controversial tax bill.

Naijaonpoint reports that Makinde spoke while delivering remarks at the 60th birthday celebration of Samson Ajetomobi, president of The Men of Issachar Vision Incorporated (MIV) and overseer of Redemption Faith Churches, held in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. Former Vice‑President Osinbajo was among the dignitaries in attendance.

Addressing Osinbajo directly, Makinde expressed admiration for how the former vice‑president handled leadership responsibilities during his tenure.

“Sir, I personally miss you in that position (as vice‑president),” Makinde said.

He swiftly clarified that his remarks were not political in nature.

“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 added.

In a nostalgic reflection, Makinde credited Osinbajo’s leadership for influencing Oyo’s response during the early days of the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Makinde said he was barely seven months into office when the crisis hit in February 2020, and recalled a crucial National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.

“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. … They came in and said we should all go back and lock down our state,” Makinde recalled.

It was Osinbajo’s leadership that, Makinde said, helped shape Oyo’s eventual path, explaining why his state did not enforce a full lockdown.

“So, for Oyo State people, why I did not lock down during COVID was because of his decision,” he said.

Makinde used the occasion to contrast Osinbajo’s openness to dialogue with what he described as the present administration’s unwillingness to listen to policy matters. He cited the tax bill controversy as evidence.

“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 has consistently opposed President Bola Tinubu’s tax reforms, arguing that the policies place an undue burden on ordinary citizens.

In September, the governor refused assent to a related tax bill passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly, citing concerns that it would deepen the hardship of residents already struggling with the country’s economic realities.