2027: My administration will reset Nigeria in four years if elected — Makinde

Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has said his administration would reset Nigeria within four years if he is elected president in 2027.

Makinde made the declaration on Monday at the APM North-Central Town Hall Meeting in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, where he outlined his proposed approach to security, education, the economy and the country’s socio-political system.

He said the proposed reset would involve a new security architecture, reforms in education and an economy driven by data, science and logic.

“The reset agenda can be concluded in four years. We had someone who was head of state in this country for 10 months, and he was able to end military rule and usher in the democracy we now enjoy in Nigeria.

“We can reset and give Nigeria a new security architecture, a new path for education, our economy utilising data, science and logic, and our socio-political environment in four years.

“So, as your president from 29 May 2027, we will run a transitional government of national unity that will culminate in new players and an agenda for Nigeria’s sustainable development,” he said.

Makinde had earlier announced his participation in the APM’s North-Central engagement in a post on X, while also disclosing that he had met with the party’s candidates from the zone behind closed doors.

“We are presently in Lafia for the APM North-Central Town Hall Meeting today.

“Last night, we held a closed-door meeting with APM candidates in the North-Central Zone. We will work together to reset Nigeria so that it works for all Nigerians.”

The governor also raised concerns over the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity, particularly across the North-Central region.

He questioned the budgetary planning behind the establishment of additional army divisions, saying he could not identify provisions for them in the 2026 budget.

“Midway into 2026, insecurity is a big issue, especially in the North-Central zone. They set up army divisions, and I was looking at the 2026 budget. For the item relating to the setting up of those army divisions, I did not see it.

“If they have it in the budget they prepared for 2026, they should bring it up,” he said.

Makinde argued that addressing insecurity would require more than the establishment of security formations, stressing the need for adequate planning and funding.

He also questioned whether the increase in allocations to state governments had resulted in tangible improvements in the living conditions of Nigerians.

“Yes, they claim the state government has more money from the federation account. I’m not arguing that we have more money, but has it translated to fighting hunger in our society? The answer is no,” he said.

On Oyo State’s finances, Makinde said the state had significantly reduced its reliance on federal allocations after he assumed office in 2019, although he said the level of dependence had subsequently increased.

“When I came in as Oyo State governor in 2019, the state’s dependence on federal allocation was 80-plus per cent; we worked really hard to bring it down to about 65 per cent in 2022, then came the statement ‘subsidy is gone’.  The result is that today, Oyo State is back to almost 80 per cent dependent on federal allocation.

“That is their voodoo economics,” he said.