Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has stated that the 2027 general election will be determined by the Nigerian people, not by the number of multimillionaires in a party or the amount of money available. He made this statement at the APM North-Central Town Hall Meeting in Lafia, Nasarawa State. Makinde emphasized that governing Nigeria effectively requires energy, planning, and a clear understanding of the country's challenges.
Makinde expressed confidence in his ability to pilot the country's affairs, assuring that he has the energy required to tackle Nigeria's challenges through his "Reset Nigeria Agenda." He stated that the task of governing Nigeria effectively requires a lot of energy, planning, and a clear understanding of the challenges facing the country. The governor also mentioned that his administration in Oyo State has been preparing the 2027 budget through a process of engaging with the senatorial zones in the state.
The governor criticized the Federal Government's expansion of Army divisions in the country, citing a lack of planning and corresponding budget provision. He claimed to have examined the 2026 budget but could not find a provision for the expansion of Army divisions. Makinde argued that expanding Army divisions without a plan or budget is not a viable solution to insecurity.
Makinde also accused the Federal Government of running a "voodoo economy," arguing that increased allocations to states from the Federation Account have not translated into improved living conditions for Nigerians. He stated that despite collecting more money from the Federation Account, state governments have not been able to address pressing issues like hunger.
The governor cited Oyo State's experience, where his administration worked to reduce the state's dependence on federal allocation from 80% in 2019 to 65% in 2022. However, he claimed that the current Federal Government's economic policies have led to Oyo State's dependence on federal allocation increasing back to almost 80%. Makinde attributed this to what he described as the Federal Government's "voodoo economy."
The APM vice-presidential candidate, Alhaji Lawal Musa Daura, also spoke at the event, stating that Nigeria has suffered from ineffective leadership. He described the current situation as "motion without movement" and emphasized that the APM is focused on delivering results-oriented leadership.
Daura expressed confidence that the APM will deliver effective leadership, stating that their focus on results will be evident to Nigerians. He emphasized that the party's goal is to bring about a movement for the betterment of Nigerians and Nigeria.
Key points
- The 2027 general election will be determined by Nigerian voters, not by the number of billionaires backing a political party or the amount of money available to it.
- Makinde accused the Federal Government of running a "voodoo economy," arguing that increased allocations to states have not translated into improved living conditions for Nigerians.
- The APM is focused on delivering results-oriented leadership, with a goal of bringing about a movement for the betterment of Nigerians and Nigeria.
