‘You Can’t Speak Truth to Power Anymore’ — Makinde Criticises Tinubu Govt

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying that open disagreement with government policies is no longer tolerated.

He said the current political climate makes it difficult for leaders to “speak truth to power,” using the controversy surrounding new tax laws as an example.

Makinde compared the situation with what he described as a more consultative approach under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor made these remarks in Ibadan during the 60th birthday celebration of Samson Ajetomobi, President of The Men of Issachar Vision Incorporated (MIV) and Overseer of Redemption Faith Churches.

The event attracted several dignitaries, including former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).

Makinde used the occasion to praise Osinbajo’s leadership style while reflecting on his own early days in office. He said he missed Osinbajo’s role in government and suggested that national governance had changed significantly since the end of the Buhari administration.

“I personally miss you as the vice president.
Things have not really been the same in this present administration.”

The Oyo governor recalled a key moment during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 when he had been in office for only a few months.

According to him, the country was facing uncertainty and pressure from federal authorities to shut down states completely.

He narrated how discussions at the National Economic Council became intense, with governors advised to impose lockdowns across their states. Makinde said Osinbajo’s intervention helped shape his decision not to shut down Oyo State at the time.

“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.
There was COVID, and we came in for the National Economic Council (NEC) 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.”

Makinde added that Oyo State eventually avoided a full lockdown because of Osinbajo’s position on the matter.

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

However, the governor said the situation is now different under the Tinubu administration. He cited the ongoing dispute over a proposed tax bill as evidence of what he called a lack of openness to dialogue.

Makinde explained that when the bill was introduced, he and others asked that it be reconsidered and reviewed more carefully before implementation. He said the request was rejected.

“But we had the same situation in this dispensation.
It was the tax bill.
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.’”

Meanwhile, the Oyo Governor also revealed that he declined to give assent to the tax bill passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly in September, citing concerns over its implications for citizens and the economy.