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By John Ogunsemore
Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has said it has become difficult to speak truth to power under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of President Bola Tinubu.
The governor stated this during the 60th birthday celebration of Samson Ajetomobi, president of The Men of Issachar Vision Incorporated (MIV) and overseer of the Redemption Faith Churches in Ibadan, Oyo State.
At the event. which drew dignitaries from various walks of life, including former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Makinde compared the present administration to the immediate-past administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the former favoured a more consultative approach.
Picking holes in the incumbent administration’s handling of the tax reforms bills, he said, “You cannot speak truth to power in this dispensation.
“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.’
“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 credited former VP Osinbajo for influencing his leadership style, saying it made him decide against a full lockdown of Oyo State during the COVID-19 pandemic era.
“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.
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“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.
“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.”
Earlier, Osinbajo thanked Governor Makinde and commended his style of governance.
He also revealed that the governor offered him the use of the podium reserved for him (Makinde) but he turned it down.
“Let me say that the governor had offered me the use of the podium for my speech but I don’t want to get used to political podiums, gubernatorial podiums, so I think I better stand here. But Your Excellency, thank you so much.
“I want to say the celebrant is someone whom I have admired for many years. Actually, I never knew that he was 60 years old. I actually thought he was older than myself. His achievement, attainment, his composure, his carriage and posture are well above his age. We want to thank God for that.
“I first heard of the men of Issachar Vision many years ago. And as you know, there are many men and women who minister with Pastor E A Adeboye, my father in the Lord every time we have conventions, congresses and all that. You hear of Pastor Adeboye and other anointed men of God. Rev Samson Ajetomobi is one of those other anointed men of God.”
The event was attended by Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Bishop Wale Oke, President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and Victoria his wife; Rev Supo Ayokunle, former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), among others.
