Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has declared that Nigeria is not working, promising to overhaul the country through reforms in education, security, the economy and fiscal federalism if elected president in 2027.
Makinde said his proposed agenda would address insecurity, poverty and economic hardship, arguing that Nigerians could no longer continue to endure policies that increase their burdens without improving their living conditions.
He made the remarks at the APM Presidential Campaign Organisation’s South-South town hall meeting in Akwa Ibom State, where the party’s National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, called for a fundamental change in the country’s direction.
“Why do you reset something? You reset something that is not working. Nigeria is not working. We can’t continue to do the same thing and expect different results,” Dantalle said.
Presenting his agenda, Makinde identified education as a major priority, saying it would play a central role in building a prosperous economy. He also promised to overhaul Nigeria’s security architecture and bring militancy in the Niger Delta to a complete end.
The governor further pledged to introduce tax incentives for entrepreneurs, pointing to his administration’s record of increasing Oyo State’s internally generated revenue without raising taxes.
Makinde Criticises Tax Policy, Raises NLNG Revenue Dispute
Makinde criticised the Federal Government’s tax policies, accusing it of imposing additional burdens on poor Nigerians instead of encouraging productivity and wealth creation.
“You are supposed to tax wealth. You are not supposed to tax poverty. But they are only interested in taxing poverty,” he said.
The APM presidential candidate also repeated his allegation that the Federal Government had withheld nearly ₦250 billion due to each state from Nigeria LNG dividend payments.
He insisted that the revenue should be distributed among the three tiers of government in accordance with the Constitution.
“Anything that goes into the Federation Account, according to our Constitution, should be shared between the Federal Government, state governments and local governments. Let them provide the amounts meant for the states and local governments in Nigeria,” he said.
On the rising cost of living, Makinde challenged the Federal Government to make its petroleum pricing template public. He questioned whether initiatives such as compressed natural gas and the naira-for-crude arrangement had translated into lower transportation costs for Nigerians.
He also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to frustrate efforts to unite opposition parties. However, he expressed confidence that the South-South region would support the APM in the 2027 election.
“I am 101 per cent sure that, just like during the 2023 elections, this zone did not vote for the APC. They will vote for the APM in the next election,” he said.
Bala Mohammed, Daura Call for Change
Earlier, APM National Leader and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, urged Nigerians, particularly young people and women, to choose their leaders based on competence, track record and vision rather than money or age.
Mohammed described Makinde and his running mate, Lawal Daura, as leaders with the experience and roadmap needed to address Nigeria’s challenges.
He said the party intended to win public support through persuasion and engagement rather than coercion.
“We are leading by persuasion. We are leading by stakeholder engagement. We are leading with a spirit of togetherness in a new Nigeria,” Mohammed said.
The party’s vice-presidential candidate, Daura, said the APM was determined to end what he described as Nigeria’s cycle of stagnation and restore dignity to citizens through reforms in education, security and the economy.
“Nigerians have no reason to be poor. They have no reason to be poor. But at least, Nigerians are entitled to live a dignified life,” he said.
Dantalle, in his remarks, attributed insecurity, poverty and inequality to deeper problems within Nigeria’s socio-economic and political systems.
He lamented that Nigerians could no longer travel, visit markets or go to their farms without fearing kidnapping.
The APM national chairman urged Nigerians to support the party’s proposed national reset, arguing that the country needed a new direction that would restore national pride and address the conditions contributing to widespread hopelessness.
