Makinde Urges South-West to Reject Politics of Deceit, Promises to Reset Nigeria
The presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Engr. Seyi Makinde, has called on the South-West to reject what he described as the politics of deceit and support his proposed agenda to reset Nigeria.
Makinde made the call while addressing party members and supporters in Akure, Ondo State, where he outlined his vision for the country, including economic restructuring, infrastructural development, improved security, educational reforms and a fairer political system.
The Oyo State governor said the South-West had historically played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s political development and should not be discouraged from presenting multiple presidential candidates.
He recalled that in 1999, two prominent political figures from the South-West, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Chief Olu-falae contested for the presidency.
According to him, the region’s decision to present different candidates at the time did not create a crisis but gave Nigerians the opportunity to choose between two prominent political figures.
Makinde said there was nothing wrong with the South-West producing multiple presidential candidates in the forthcoming election.
He said, “South-West, you must say no to the politics of deceit. They have asked me to stop criticising them and tell the people what I will do.
“I do have things that we have done successfully in our state.”
The APM candidate cited his administration’s budget performance in Oyo State as an example of what he said could be achieved through effective governance.He explained that when he assumed office, the state’s budget performance was between 28 and 30 per cent, but his administration had subsequently raised it to more than 70 per cent.
According to him, Oyo State has consistently operated its budgets from January to December for more than seven years, with budgets usually presented to the State House of Assembly between November and December and implemented from January 1 of the following year.
Makinde also criticised the Federal Government over what he described as uncertainty surrounding the implementation of Nigeria’s national budget.
He questioned the need for Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations to travel from New York to Abuja to present the UN budget to the President, arguing that the resources could be put to better use.
The governor called for a Nigeria that works for all citizens rather than a privileged few.
He rejected what he described as turn-by-turn politics and nepotism, arguing that public office holders should not allocate projects based on their political affiliations or geographical interests.
According to him, such an approach could leave projects unfinished whenever administrations change, thereby limiting the country’s ability to derive value from its resources.
He said his proposed reset agenda would prioritise infrastructure as a driver of economic growth and address the concerns of young people and women.
Makinde also called on Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), stressing the need for collective participation in the country’s political process.
“We want a Nigeria that works for everybody. It is not a Nigeria that works for very few,” he said.
He further urged Nigerians to reject political arrangements that promote nepotism, insisting that national development should be a collective responsibility rather than the preserve of a particular region or political group.
Reflecting on the 1999 presidential election, Makinde noted that although the South-West voted massively for Obasanjo, other parts of the country supported different candidates, demonstrating that the responsibility for choosing national leaders rested with Nigerians collectively.
The APM candidate said his proposed reset agenda would seek to expand economic opportunities, improve infrastructure and establish a system capable of moving Nigerians from poverty to prosperity.
Makinde Outlines Four Pillars of Reset Agenda
Makinde also outlined the major components of his proposed reset agenda, emphasising education, security, economic expansion and the country’s socio-political environment.
On education, he said natural resources alone could not guarantee economic prosperity without the development of skills and knowledge.
He argued that Nigeria needed to reform its educational system to equip citizens with the competencies required to participate meaningfully in economic activities.
On security, Makinde said the country needed to restructure its security architecture to protect lives
On economic development, the APM candidate called for a more productive economy that would provide multiple pathways for lifting Nigerians out of poverty.
He also advocated a taxation system that focuses on prosperity rather than placing additional burdens on poor citizens.
“Let the people be productive. When they are productive, they become prosperous. When they are prosperous, tax prosperity. Don’t tax poverty,” he said.
Makinde also criticised what he described as attempts to weaken opposition parties, arguing that a functioning democracy required political pluralism and an environment in which opposition groups could operate freely.
He called on the Federal Government to refrain from actions that could create crises within opposition parties, insisting that a one-party system would undermine democratic development.
The APM candidate urged party members to engage voters at the grassroots, explain the party’s agenda and encourage Nigerians to participate in the electoral process.
He said the proposed reset agenda was intended to ensure that no region or demographic group was left behind in the country’s development.
Using Ondo State’s riverine communities as an illustration, Makinde said economic growth should benefit all parts of the country.
“When the tide is high, all the boats will rise. So, once we fix our economy and the tide is high, every boat will rise,” he said.
He added that his administration’s proposed approach would seek to expand economic opportunities across regions and social groups.
APM Chairman Cites Insecurity, Economic Challenges
Earlier, the APM National Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, said Nigeria needed a fundamental change in governance, citing insecurity, rising petroleum prices, economic hardship and concerns about the country’s democratic process.
Dantalle questioned why Nigeria, despite being a major petroleum-producing country, continued to experience high prices of petroleum products.
He argued that Nigerians were bearing the burden of rising fuel costs despite the country’s oil resources.
He also expressed concern about the country’s security situation, noting that kidnappings and killings involving military officers, police personnel and other prominent Nigerians had continued to raise questions about the effectiveness of security measures.
The party chairman contrasted the security challenges with what he described as the swift detention of citizens who criticise government officials.
On democracy, Dantalle said elected representatives should reflect the wishes of the people rather than the interests of political leaders.
He criticised what he described as external interference in state-level political contests, alleging that powerful political figures sometimes attempted to determine who should govern states outside their own constituencies.
Dantalle also expressed concern about election-related judicial decisions, arguing that technical interpretations of electoral laws sometimes resulted in the removal of candidates chosen by voters.
He said Nigeria needed to strengthen its democratic institutions and ensure that the wishes of the electorate were respected.
The APM chairman called on Nigerians to support the party’s proposed political and economic reforms, adding that the country could not rely on external assistance to resolve its challenges.
“Nobody will fix Nigeria for us unless we choose to fix it ourselves. We must turn back the hands of time and get things right. We have no other place to go apart from Nigeria,” he said.
He further called for unity across religious, linguistic and political divides, stressing that political parties might come and go, but Nigeria would remain.
Bala Commends Makinde’s Candidacy Also speaking, Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Bala said the APM represented a platform for a new approach to politics and governance in Nigeria.
Bala described the party as young but driven by knowledge, planning and a clear understanding of the country’s challenges.
He said Makinde’s experience at the subnational level had demonstrated his ability to address infrastructure and public service challenges.
According to him, the APM presidential candidate understood Nigeria’s problems and had the capacity to contribute to addressing them.
Bala also highlighted the choice of Makinde’s running mate, whom he described as a security expert with experience in the field.
The Bauchi governor expressed appreciation to the APM for providing a political platform for members who had previously belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said he and his political associates had eventually left the PDP after encountering difficulties within the party and were grateful for the opportunity to continue their political activities under the APM.
Bala described the APM as a significant opposition platform and said its leadership was presenting Nigerians with an alternative vision for the country’s future.
He also called for political rotation, describing it as an arrangement that would allow different groups to participate in leadership.
The governor said Ondo State was an appropriate location for the party’s gathering because of its reputation for human capital development and the concentration of academics and professionals in the state.
He urged opposition members not to be intimidated by political challenges, stressing that meaningful change required commitment, hard work and a clear vision.
According to him, political transformation should not be measured by campaign posters, billboards or rhetoric but by the ability to translate ideas into practical results.
Bala also commended Makinde for consulting stakeholders before presenting his programmes and projects, describing such engagement as essential to inclusive governance.
He said listening to the people, accommodating different interests and carrying everyone along were necessary for effective leadership.
The governor congratulated the party on the gathering, describing it as a significant occasion in its ongoing town hall meetings.
He expressed confidence in the party’s ability to communicate its vision to Nigerians and urged supporters to work towards achieving their objectives.
