I Miss You As VP, Things Are Not The Same – Makinde To Osinbajo

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has openly expressed his admiration for former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, saying he misses his leadership style and that things have not been the same since Osinbajo left office.

Makinde made these remarks on Saturday during the 60th birthday celebration of Samson Ajetomobi, President of The Men of Issachar Vision Incorporated (MIV) and Overseer of the Redemption Faith Churches, held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Osinbajo was also present at the event, adding a layer of significance to the governor’s words.

“Sir, I personally miss you in that position (as vice president),” Makinde told Osinbajo directly. “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 reminisced about a key moment during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting Osinbajo’s role as Chairman of the National Economic Council. “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 said.

“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.”

Drawing a sharp contrast, Makinde criticized the current administration under President Bola Tinubu for its handling of the controversial tax reform bill. “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.”

Makinde’s opposition to Tinubu’s tax reforms is well-documented. In September last year, he refused to assent to the bill after it passed the Oyo State House of Assembly, arguing that it would place undue burdens on the poor amid Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges. This stance has positioned him as a vocal critic within the political landscape, especially as northern governors and traditional rulers have also raised concerns over the reforms.

The event in Ibadan, home to many residents who witnessed the governor’s tenure during the pandemic, underscores Makinde’s emphasis on consultative leadership. Social media reactions have been mixed, with some praising his candor while others see it as a subtle jab at the federal government. As Nigeria grapples with economic reforms, such public reflections highlight ongoing debates about governance and policy-making in the country.

NaijaChoice News reports that Osinbajo, who served as Vice President from 2015 to 2023 under President Muhammadu Buhari, has remained influential in economic discussions post-tenure. His attendance at the birthday celebration brought together political and religious figures, sparking conversations on leadership legacies.