Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has promised to emplace practical reforms for the transformation of Nigeria, if elected as the country’s president in 2027.
He assured Nigerians that the practical reforms he was going to offer would translate into improved welfare and security for all citizens.
The governor stated these in his acceptance speech after being affirmed as the consensus presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM).
The APM primary election collation/unveiling ceremony was held at the Professor Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, University College Hospital, Ibadan, on Saturday.
2027: Makinde and his practical reforms
The governor, who lamented the rising case of insecurity, inflation and hunger in the country, said a new direction must emerge to reset Nigeria.
“Today, even as I stand here, some innocent school children and citizens abducted by terrorists are still in captivity.
“As governor of Oyo State, I carry the painful burden of being called Chief Security Officer, yet lacking constitutional control over the security agencies needed to fully confront these threats.
“No governor should be placed in a situation where responsibility is placed on his shoulders, but the necessary authority is withheld.
“As president of Nigeria, I will work to reform our national security architecture so that states are no longer left helpless in moments of crisis.
“The decentralisation that we need for a more effective security will be prioritised. The safety of Nigerians will not be treated as a political talking point. It will be a national duty.
“I believe we have the capacity to rebuild our economy with honesty and practical reforms,” the governor declared.
Makinde stressed that Nigerians must benefit from their citizenship of an oil-producing country, promising to pursue fair, transparent and right pricing templates for petroleum products that reflect the realities of the cost of production.
“Nigerians must be protected from arbitrary pricing and not have to bear the cost of the government’s failure to secure our borders.
He further said: “I dare dream that the NNPC Ltd will be reformed and become lean, efficient, and commercially-driven through proper joint venture incorporation and institutional reforms.
“I dare dream that we will reset Nigeria and take the difficult but necessary decision to restructure the ownership of our refineries so Nigeria can finally stop bleeding resources into systems that no longer serve the people effectively.”
He promised to expand practical transportation support systems, using models that have already shown promise at the state level to ease the burdens of high cost of transportation on workers, students, traders, and families.
He said he would guarantee food security by collating accurate data about the nation’s capacity in the agriculture sector so that the gaps in production, processing, agro-logistics and storage could be addressed.
The Oyo State governor assured Nigerians of a presidential campaign that would be about solutions, competence and the future.
“Together, we can build a Nigeria where security is not a privilege, where opportunity is not reserved for a few, and where leadership finally serves the people,” he added.
Earlier, after the affirmation of the governor as the presidential candidate by the 36 APM state chairmen, the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle described his emergence as the beginning of a new chapter in the political history of Nigeria.
He said the country was ready to entrust leadership to a new generation of visionary leaders committed to human development, security, education, healthcare, agriculture, wealth creation, infrastructure and technology.
Dantalle said power must be returned to the people, in whom sovereignty ultimately resides, noting that the party was committed to building a government that would place citizens at the centre of decision making.
In their separate goodwill messages, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Jatau; and the APM Lagos State governorship candidate, Hon Laja Adeoye, assured the people that Makinde would deliver the best for the country, and urged party stakeholders to work for his victory at the polls.
In his welcome address, the governorship candidate of the party in Oyo State, Hon. ‘Bimbo Adekanmbi, appreciated all the party leaders and the delegates from the 36 states for their support.
Their support, he said, was a demonstration of the unity and strength of a collective vision with the party.
He said the unprecedented achievements recorded across all sectors in Oyo State could be replicated in country, noting that Governor Makinde’s governance has delivered tangible results through his commitment and vision.
The event had in attendance a former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Oyo State Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal; a former deputy governor of the state, Engineer Hamid Gbadamosi; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin;
Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde; Chief of Staff, Otunba (Dr) Segun Ogunwuyi; Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Kazeem Adeniyi; commissioners, party leaders and delegates from across the country, lawmakers, and local government chairmen, among others.
