Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has openly expressed nostalgia for the tenure of former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, saying Nigeria’s economic management and consultative governance were markedly better under his leadership as Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC).
Makinde made the remarks on Saturday in Ibadan during a public function attended by Osinbajo, where he credited the former Vice President’s leadership style for shaping some of his most critical decisions as governor.
“Sir, I personally miss you in that position. 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,” Makinde said, drawing applause from the audience.
The governor recalled his early days in office, particularly during the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, noting that Osinbajo’s approach at NEC meetings influenced his decision not to impose a total lockdown in Oyo State.
“I was barely seven months into the position of governor, and that was my very first public service job. We had a crisis in the country in February 2020—COVID.
“At the National Economic Council meeting, it was a very hot session. Some of my colleagues came in and said we should all go back and lock down our states,” Makinde narrated.
According to him, Osinbajo’s handling of the meeting and insistence on balancing public health concerns with economic realities shaped his stance.
“For Oyo State people, why I did not lock down during COVID was because of his decision,” he said.
Makinde contrasted that experience with what he described as the current administration’s approach to governance, particularly in relation to the controversial tax reform bills.
“But we had the same situation in this dispensation; it was the tax bill. We said, ‘Bring the tax bill back, let us all have an opportunity to look dispassionately at it,’ but you cannot speak truth to power in this dispensation,” the governor stated.
He criticised what he called a lack of transparency and consultation, alleging that governors were sidelined in decisions affecting the states.
“They said the tax bill will go ahead. It is an affront for even the governors to be saying what the presidency has done by sending the tax bill to the National Assembly.
“We don’t know what was passed, and we don’t know what was signed,” Makinde lamented.
In an emotional conclusion, the Oyo governor reiterated his admiration for Osinbajo’s leadership.
“When I say I miss you, sir, I miss you so much,” he said.
