When an Hausa man tells you, “yi a hankali”, he’s asking you to take things easy. Calm down.
Governor Seyi Makinde treated us to another round of comic relief through what, I think he considered an honor done to the former Vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo and a knock for President Tinubu.
In a short video which surfaced online yesterday, the Governor of Oyo state could be heard saying ” things have changed”.
He said during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a National Economic Council meeting which he attended for the first time in February, 2020.
Please note that the Vice president of the Country is the Chairman of the National Economic Council of Nigeria and all the 36 State Governors are members of the Council.
Governor Makinde said the February, 2020 NEC meeting was very hot and that the general decision taken was that every States of the Federation should immediately go on lockdown but he did not comply.
He said he didn’t comply with the directives to lockdown the state because of the decision by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. ( Whatever he meant by that).
As a result of that, he said he misses Prof. Osinbajo and went to say that these days, things have changed and “you can no longer speak truth to power “.
Surprisingly, he likened the COVID-19 pandemic situation to the arguments around the Tax Bill and said , ” we said, bring it back (Tax Bill), and let us all look dispassionately at it, but… you can not speak truth to power”.
When I heard Governor Makinde vomiting those words, I ask myself, if this man doesn’t have a godfather as he always say, doesn’t he have some people who gives him proper advice? ( Olubadamoran).
With due respect to him, Governor Seyi Makinde is not your Cicero any day but it doesn’t matter, once the words you’re putting out conveys proper understanding of the subject matter you’re discussing.
Let us look at his statement critically.
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the material time he was talking about, was the Vice president of Nigeria.
The directive to lockdown the States of the Federation at the time, was a policy of the Buhari Administration under which Osinbajo was the VP.
Sadly, Governor Makinde did not provide details about how his decision to flout the directives of the Federal Government at the time was connected to Yemi Osinbajo.
However, I was disturbed when I heard Governor Makinde made the statement that suggested that Prof. Osinbajo actually aided him to go against the directives of a Federal Government under which he was the Vice president.
Perhaps, if Governor Makinde has people who advises him on how to put his thoughts into words and deliver them with accurate diction that convey meanings, there wouldn’t be room for ambiguities.
I am also surprised that Governor Makinde didn’t remember to tell us, until now, that Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was actually the genius behind his self acclaimed ‘ wise decision’ to disobey the directives to lockdown Oyo state in 2020.
Both himself and his Media aides kept attributing such ‘ wise decision ‘ to the Governor.
I am also surprised that Governor Seyi Makinde is trying to liken the COVID-19 pandemic to the newly introduced Tax Bill.
What exactly is happening to Governor Makinde?
I hope all is well with him? How do you compare apples with oranges?
Is it not time for his close friends and associates to look dispassionately at the actions of the Governor in recent times?
It is also a matter of serious concerns that he is also just remembering to tell us that he wanted to take a ‘ dispassionate ‘ look at the Tax Bill.
Was he hiding inside a Cupboard when he was registering his displeasures against the Tax Bill because I am not aware that he said anything against the Bill.
How many taxes has he introduced in Oyo state since he became Governor in 2019?
Okadar Riders, Maruwa Drivers, Micra Drivers, Interstate Bus Drivers, Traders and Artisans are made to pay all manner of ridiculous taxes under his Government.
Just recently, a 7.5 percent deduction on the basic salaries of Civil servants who are registered with the Oyo state Health Insurance Agency, OYSIA was approved by him.
Did he allow relevant stakeholders to take a dispassionate look at his Executive memos before those ridiculous taxes were approved?
Governor Makinde said he can no longer speak truth to power!
What has happened to him all this while that he has been lying against power?
The same Governor Seyi Makinde who met with president Tinubu a couple of days ago and after meeting with him, he told newsmen that he is comfortable in the PDP and would be adopting a ‘ bi-partisan ‘ approach to issues.
So, when he met with the president, he was telling lies to ‘ power ‘ so that he won’t be kidnapped or what?
You just had a one on one meeting with the president.
What were you telling him when you met him?
Shouldn’t you have raised the concerns you are raising now with him in the course of your deliberations?
Not long ago, you held a Media chat where you raised all manner of allegations against the president.
You even went to the extent of disclosing certain things you claimed to have discussed with him in private.
Interestingly, the same president granted you audience after your reckless outbursts against him and you are still saying you can’t speak truth to him?
I think Governor Makinde really needs to tell us what is happening between him and the president.
The last time I checked, both the president and the presidency have continued to ignore him regardless of whatever he says or does.
Is that hurting him?
Should we begin to take a second look at former Governor Ayodele Fayose’s account of what transpired between Governor Makinde and president Tinubu during their recent meeting?
It does appear like Governor Makinde has become more agitated and frustrated since he returned from his trip to the Villa.
Governor Makinde is no doubts going through difficult times.
His unnecessary dissipation of anger against the Tax Bill at this moment is just a manifestation of stress, fatigue the desperation.
For some time now, he has taken it upon himself to criticize every policies of the Tinubu Administration.
Just recently, he declared that he is not going to support Tinubu in 2027.
Before then, he said he won’t be bothered by the defections of some Governors and political heavyweights into the APC until he hears that hunger has defected.
I am not aware that anyone, on behalf of the president or the presidency reacted to him and neither am I aware that he was in any way harassed.
Governor Seyi Makinde, what exactly do you want?
Sola Abegunde.
