Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State and presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), has urged the South-West to reject what he described as the politics of nepotism and “turn-by-turn” governance ahead of the 2027 general election
Makinde said Nigeria needed a leadership system that prioritised fairness, competence, and equitable development rather than concentrating political appointments and projects in the hands of a few people or particular regions
He spoke at the APM’s 2027 presidential campaign town hall meeting in Akure, Ondo State, where he presented the party’s proposed Reset Nigeria agenda as an alternative to what he described as the damage caused by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration
“We say no to a turn-by-turn Nigeria where they say, ‘Oh, it is my turn to run a nepotistic administration’ And I’m saying this in front of the South-West people. We’re known for fairness,” he said.
The Oyo governor argued that governance should not be driven by the belief that political power belonged to a particular region or individual at a given time, insisting that national development required collective responsibility
Speaking on why he is contesting as a South-West candidate when Tinubu is already contesting, he cited the 1999 presidential election
Makinde recalled that two prominent Yoruba leaders, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae, contested the presidency from the South-West without the region losing its sense of political unity
He said the region had presented two candidates for Nigerians to choose from, adding that the experience showed that presidential contests should be based on democratic choice rather than regional entitlement
Makinde also criticised what he described as inconsistencies in the implementation of the Federal Government’s budget, contrasting the situation with his administration’s record in Oyo State
According to him, budget performance in his state had improved from between 28 and 30 per cent before he assumed office to more than 70 per cent under his administration
He said his government had also maintained a January-to-December budget cycle for more than seven years, with budgets typically presented and passed before the beginning of each fiscal year
“South-West, let this be the home of a new rebirth for Nigeria We want to reset Nigeria. Together, will we reset Nigeria,” he said, urging residents to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The APM candidate identified education, security, youth employment, and infrastructure as the four major pillars of the party’s proposed agenda, arguing that natural resources alone could not guarantee economic prosperity without investment in skills and knowledge
He added that infrastructure development should stimulate economic growth and create opportunities for young people and women, rather than leaving projects unfinished whenever political leadership changed
Also speaking, the APM’s senatorial candidate and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Abdulkadri, described the gathering as a significant demonstration of support for Makinde’s presidential ambition
Abdulkadri urged party members to remain focused despite what he called attempts by detractors to infiltrate their ranks, saying the party intended to begin implementing its agenda after May 29, 2027, with a focus on reducing hardship and easing the suffering of Nigerians