Makinde says Tinubu era has silenced truth at the top

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has launched a stinging criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying Nigeria has entered an era where speaking truth to power has become almost impossible.

Makinde made the remarks on Saturday in Ibadan during a public event attended by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other dignitaries, using the occasion to contrast the current political climate with what he described as a more open and consultative system under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor accused the Tinubu administration of shutting out dissenting voices, particularly state governors, citing the controversial tax reform bills as evidence. He said governors repeatedly asked for the bills to be withdrawn for broader consultation but were ignored.

According to Makinde, the tax bills were pushed through the National Assembly without transparency, leaving governors uncertain about what was eventually passed or signed into law.

“You cannot speak truth to power in this dispensation,” he said, describing the process as disrespectful to elected governors and a sharp departure from previous practices.

Makinde openly expressed nostalgia for Osinbajo’s leadership style, saying he missed his tenure as Vice President and chairman of the National Economic Council. He recalled that Osinbajo’s approach encouraged debate and flexibility, even during moments of national crisis.

The governor said Osinbajo’s handling of NEC deliberations during the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020 influenced his decision not to impose a total lockdown in Oyo State, despite pressure from some quarters.

He noted that he was barely seven months into office when the pandemic struck, and that the tone set by Osinbajo at the council meetings allowed governors to consider local realities rather than enforce blanket policies.

Makinde insisted his comments were not politically motivated, but a reflection on leadership, governance and the shrinking space for honest engagement under the current administration.