Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has criticised the
current federal administration over what he described as a lack of consultation
in the handling of the proposed tax reform bills.
Speaking on Saturday at a public function in Ibadan,
Makinde contrasted the present situation with what he said was a more inclusive
and consultative leadership style under the late former President Muhammadu
Buhari.
The event was attended by several dignitaries,
including former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, whom the governor openly
praised, saying he missed his approach to leadership.
“You cannot speak truth to power in this
dispensation,” Makinde said, while faulting the federal government’s handling
of the tax reform bills.
He recalled that a similar issue arose during the
Buhari administration but was addressed through dialogue and collective review.
“We had the same situation in that dispensation. It
was the tax bill, and we said, ‘Look, bring the tax bill back; let us all have
an opportunity to look dispassionately at it,’” he said.
“Here, they said the tax bill would go ahead. It is an
affront for governors to even be saying that what the presidency has done by
sending the tax bill to the National Assembly is wrong. We don’t know what was
passed by the National Assembly, and we don’t also know what was eventually
signed,” Makinde added.
Expressing his admiration for Osinbajo, the governor
said the former vice president’s leadership as chairman of the National
Economic Council (NEC) played a key role in his decision-making during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Makinde recalled that barely seven months into his
first term as governor, Nigeria was hit by the COVID-19 crisis in February
2020, leading to intense deliberations at an NEC meeting.
“At that meeting, some of my colleagues had already
decided that we should go back and lock down our states. But the chairman of
the council, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, listened to everyone,” he said.
He explained that Osinbajo’s balanced leadership
influenced his decision not to impose a total lockdown in Oyo State.
“For the people of Oyo State, the reason I did not
lock down during COVID was because of his decision,” Makinde stated.
The governor concluded by saying that Osinbajo’s
absence in national leadership is being felt, noting that governance dynamics
are no longer the same.
“When I say I miss you, sir, I miss you so much. A lot
of people may not know why things are not really the same. This is not
political talk; I’m not on that podium,” he said.
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