The presidential candidate of the Action Peoples Movement (APM), Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, has unveiled an economic, educational, security and socio-political “Reset Agenda” for Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Makinde, who spoke at the Makinde/Daura 2027 Presidential Town Hall Meeting in Katsina on Tuesday, also dismissed a claim by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that the Federal Government gave Oyo State N50 billion to upgrade the Ladoke Akintola International Airport, Ibadan.
He said the airport project was being financed entirely by the Oyo State Government, describing Wike’s claim as false.
“My attention was drawn to an interview granted yesterday by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, where he said that the President gave N50 billion to Oyo State to upgrade the Ibadan Airport to international standards.
“I want to say that the claim is false. The President did not give me or Oyo State N50 billion to upgrade the Ibadan Airport. The Ibadan Airport upgrade project is being undertaken 100 per cent with the funds of Oyo State,” Makinde said.
The APM candidate said the proposed economic reset would focus on skills, knowledge and intensive production, arguing that Nigeria could not compete globally without an economy that operates round the clock.
“We are determined to reset our economy. Yes, people will argue that Nigeria is rich in natural resources. But natural resources are not enough. You must have skills and knowledge, and you must also have intensive production,” he said.
He also promised to overhaul the education system by improving the collection and use of data, particularly on the number of out-of-school children and strategies for returning them to classrooms.
On security, Makinde said his administration would seek to restructure the country’s security architecture, citing the reported deaths of 37 young Nigerians in custody in Niger State.
“Is it their fault that they were born in Nigeria? Is it their fault that they were looking for means of surviving? No, sir. The answer is no,” he said.
The Oyo governor also proposed devolving greater responsibility for mining to state governments, with the Federal Government retaining an oversight role.
“Right now, the issue of mining is on the Exclusive Legislative List in our Constitution. Devolve that responsibility to the states and let there be oversight only at the federal level. They will do better,” he said.
He said the proposed reset would also address the distribution of responsibilities among the three tiers of government, particularly by determining which level should take decisions on issues directly affecting citizens.
Makinde further criticised the continued absence of President Bola Tinubu from the country, saying his position on the matter was based on the Constitution rather than partisan politics.
He cited Section 145 of the Constitution, which provides for a president proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge the functions of office to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“As a state governor, I also operate under that Constitution. Anytime I have to travel out, not for work but on vacation, for more than 21 days, I transmit power to the Deputy Governor.
Why is this not happening at the national level?” he asked.
Makinde pledged that if elected president, he would comply strictly with the constitutional provision on the transmission of power.
“I promise you that, as your President, I will follow the Constitution to the letter. If I am not going to be available, if I am on vacation, I will transmit power to the Vice President. Record this and hold me accountable,” he said.
He said the APM campaign would be issue-based, urging Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate actively in the 2027 election.
“It won’t be APC versus APM, or APM versus ADC, or ADC versus NDC. It will be APC versus Nigerians,” Makinde said.
He added that the ultimate objective of the proposed Reset Agenda was to build a country that would work for all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion or geographical location.
Makinde said the Katsina meeting was the beginning of the APM’s Northwest consultation, promising to return to Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Zamfara and Jigawa for state-by-state campaigns.
