Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, announced the birth of the Reset Nigeria Movement, declaring that it was a rallying point for all suffering Nigerians.
He also put to rest speculations about his next move at the end of his two-term tenure as governor, as he disclosed his ambition to contest the presidential election in 2027.
PHOTO: Oyo Gov’s Media Unit.
Makinde made the disclosures as he unveiled an alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied People’s Movement (APM) at a grand rally held at the historic Mapo Hall, Ibadan, on Thursday.
According to him, the Reset Nigeria Movement would serve as a platform for Nigerians who he said were hard done by the harsh economic policies and lack of direction by the APC-led government at the centre.
Makinde said the mass of Nigerians would use the movement to work in unity to give the country the reset it needed.
He also disclosed that the new alliance between the two political parties would allow the former to produce candidates from the House of Assembly to the Presidency in the 2027 general election on the platform of the APM.
Declaring his ambition to contest the presidential election in 2027, Makinde maintained that Nigerians would witness the birth of a new nation from 29 May, 2027.
He stated that, despite the hardship visited on Nigerians and the oppression of opposition parties by the APC, Nigerians would not cave in or allow the aspiration of the APC to foist a one-party system on the country.
Makinde had earlier led PDP leaders to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Working Committee of the APM, led by its National Chairman, Alhaji Yusuff Mamman Dantalle.
He said the APC projection that opposition parties would never be able to unite has failed, with the average Nigerian becoming the opposition.
He called on Nigerians to shake off political apathy by engaging in the political process to ensure that Nigeria works for everyone, adding that it was high time Nigerians confronted their fears and rescued their country.
Makinde equally tasked opposition political parties to unite, saying PDP and APM have shown an example of how parties must engage to rescue Nigeria from APC, on whose watch, he said, the country has been crumbling.
“Let me start by appreciating the good people of Oyo State for giving us the opportunity to serve them for these past seven years, and for their unwavering support In this transition period. Thank you very much.
“Today, we are all here at this mega rally to announce the grand alliance between the PDP and the APM. We must trace our steps to understand how we arrived here.
“In the past few years, we have found ourselves at a point in our political history as a nation where the very foundation of democracy is being shaken.
“We have witnessed the continuous meddling in the affairs of opposition parties in our dear country with the aim of taking Nigeria to a one-party system. Without a multi-party system, there is no democracy. So where is our multi-party?
“The economic and security situations have continued to deteriorate, putting the majority of Nigerians on survivor mode. And this is on a daily basis.
“Those charged with the responsibility of looking out for the welfare of citizens are treating the authority they hold in trust as personal property that they can wield as they please.
“This is why, for the past several months, one question has been at the top of my mind. Where do we go from here? Is this the way we are to continue as a nation?
“We have been pushed to the wall with the belief that we will turn against ourselves in confusion. Or worse still, that we will become too weary from trying to survive on a daily basis to fight back.
“They calculated and said the opposition cannot unite. But I am here today to say that it is a miscalculation. The opposition in Nigeria is not just political parties.
“The opposition is the everyday Nigerian for whom the country does not work, and even the opposition political parties in Nigeria remain collectively resolved to work together to present an alternative.
“This is the time for all of us to shake off the apathy that is gradually taking root and engage with the political process to ensure that Nigeria works for us.
“This is the time to confront our fears. Do not be afraid. It is time to engage as citizens and not spectators in our own country. We cannot be bystanders. We must engage, we must participate and the outcome will be guaranteed.
“For the opposition political parties, this is the time to unite. One party at a time and this is what PDP and APM are doing right now. It is the time to work in unity to give our dear nation the results that it needs.
“Today, history is being made. I pronounce today the birth of the Reset Nigeria Movement. The time to reset Nigeria is now.
“And so, today, in Oyo State, in Ibadan, which is the city of warriors, the first grand alliance is formed — the alliance of the PDP and APM.
“This handshake will allow us field candidates at all levels. We will field candidates from top to bottom. We will field candidates from presidency to state assembly and everything in between.
“Therefore, today, I, Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, announced my candidacy for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We will witness the rebirth of a new nation from May 29th, 2027,” he said.
Earlier, some leaders of the PDP and APM signed a MoU as part of the ongoing coalition and realignment efforts between the two political parties ahead of 2027 general election.
The signing and presentation of the MoU was held at the PDP South-West Secretariat, Soji Adagunodo House, Old Ife Road, Ibadan.
Speaking during the event, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Dr Eddy Olafeso, thanked Governor Makinde for the privilege of bringing new energy and unity among political leaders and for his strategic capacity and management of resources as the governor of Oyo State.
The governor later led the PDP and APM leaders, top government officials and political functionaries to Mapo Hall, where thousands of party loyalists had converged for the mega rally.
PDP Chairman in Oyo State, Hon Dayo Ogungbenro, noted that the unity rally was the climax of the alliance between the PDP and the APM after the two parties signed the MoU.
He described the alliance as the beginning of good things for Oyo State and Nigeria, assuring that the alliance of the two political parties would produce president, governors, National and state House of Assembly members in the 2027 general election.
In their separate goodwill messages, former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the PDP National Vice Chairman (South-East), Chief Ali Odefa, noted that the alliance of the two political parties was as a result of the failure of the ruling APC to keep its numerous campaign promises.
They added that Nigeria “cannot afford to operate a one-party system, as parties are coming together to ensure an end to the incompetence of the current administration in the country.”
Also in their remarks, National Chairman of APM, Dantalle and the National Secretary, Hon Oyadeyi Ayodele, congratulated Governor Makinde and the leaders of the parties on the alliance.
The duo stressed that both parties have begun to work together to ensure that Nigeria reclaim its pride of place as one of the best countries in Africa.
In attendance at the two events were Oyo State deputy governor, Bayo Lawal; former Deputy Governor Hamid Gbadamosi; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Adebo Ogundoyin; former Speaker of the state legislature, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu.
All serving House of Representatives members of the party in Oyo State as well as governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly aspirants on the platform of the party in Oyo State were present.
Also in attendance were the APM National Vice Chairman (South-West), Hon Peter Olabanji; National Women Leader, Hajia Hafsat Usman; APM Chairman, Oyo State, Hon Adegbenro Fagbemi; PDP Chairman, Ekiti State, Hon Tunji Odeyemi; PDP Caretaker Chairman, Osun State, Hon. Babatunde Tijani; and PDP Chairman, Lagos State, Dr Amos Fawole.
Top state government functionaries present included Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba (Dr) Segun Ogunwuyi; Chairman, Ibadan Airport Upgrade Committee, Hon Bimbo Adekanmbi; Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon Kazeem Adeniyi; Chairman, Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun;
Commissioners, special advisers; Executive Assistants; Special Assistants and other PDP stakeholders were also in attendance.
