…Launches campaign in Lagos
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate in the 2027 election, has accused President Bola Tinubu of using Nigeria’s reported growth in foreign reserves to hoodwink Nigerians and create a false impression of economic recovery, amid worsening hardship across the country.
Makinde described the emphasis on rising foreign reserves as a political gimmick, insisting that improvements in macroeconomic indicators should translate into better living conditions, increased purchasing power and greater economic opportunities for Nigerians.
He spoke on Saturday in a video message at the official launch of the Makinde and Daura for Better Nigeria (MAD) Resetter Movement in Lagos, which attracted APM leaders, party loyalists, stakeholders and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor called for a fundamental reset of Nigeria’s economy, security architecture, education system and socio-political environment, advocating a return to the principles of federalism and multiparty democracy.
Expressing support for the movement, Makinde urged Nigerians to look beyond official economic statistics and judge the government by the realities of their daily lives.
“I am with you 101 per cent towards the reset agenda for Nigeria. We need to reset our economy, our security architecture, our educational system and the socio-political environment,” he said.
He questioned the significance of rising foreign reserves when millions of citizens continue to struggle to afford basic necessities, likening the situation to a household whose head boasts of substantial bank savings while family members go hungry.
“We have heard stories that Nigeria’s foreign reserves are going up. I liken it to a household where the head is telling the people that we have a lot of money in our savings accounts, but everyone in that household is hungry,” he noted.
According to Makinde, genuine economic progress should be measured by citizens’ ability to achieve prosperity, become financially independent and access opportunities to fulfil their aspirations.
The governor stressed that young Nigerians must be able to pursue their dreams in an economy that offers meaningful opportunities rather than struggle to survive despite claims of improved economic performance.
On governance, the governor maintained that Nigeria’s political and constitutional foundations were built on federalism and multiparty democracy, principles he said must be strengthened to ensure the country works for all citizens.
“ Nigeria was negotiated on the basis of a federalism arrangement. Nigeria was negotiated on the basis of multiparty democracy. So, join myself and Alhaji Lawal Daura in the agenda to make Nigeria work for everybody,” he said.
Makinde called on Nigerians dissatisfied with the country’s direction to join the movement, urging its members to expand their mobilisation beyond Lagos and the Southwest to other geopolitical zones.
Campaign organisation demands economic reset
Also speaking, Hassan Felix, the Director-General of the Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation, called for a change in Nigeria’s direction, citing unemployment, insecurity and worsening economic hardship.
Felix questioned claims that the government’s economic policies were improving citizens’ welfare, arguing that persistent hardship and the exit of companies from the country undermined the narrative of economic recovery.
Comparing Nigeria’s economic performance with Ghana’s, he said the country had failed to translate its abundant natural and human resources into widespread prosperity.
“We want to go back to a nation of prosperity. They are deceiving Nigerians, but the time of deceit is over. It is time for a reset, and that time is now,” he said.
Emmanuel Dennis, the Director of Volunteers, Support and Special Interest Groups of the MAD Political Campaign Organisation, said the movement would prioritise issue-based campaigns over rallies and entertainment, focusing on the country’s economic and governance challenges.
Dennis cited rising petrol prices, stagnant salaries and worsening living conditions as factors making it increasingly difficult for households to meet their basic needs.
He also criticised the National Assembly, describing it as a rubber stamp, and expressed concern that court decisions were increasingly determining electoral outcomes rather than the choices of voters.
“We know the campaign has started, but we don’t want to have a campaign where people would dance and then go home. We want to make our campaign issue-based,” he said.
Questioning Nigeria’s continued description as the giant of Africa, Dennis argued that the country’s economic and political realities demanded fundamental reforms.
He urged supporters to work towards a political reset at both state and national levels, encouraging them to support the movement’s candidates.
APM Lagos candidate promises inclusive governance
The APM governorship candidate in Lagos State, Adelaja Adeoye, pledged to run an inclusive government that would cater to residents irrespective of gender or social background.
“We are gender-sensitive in APM. We are bringing a Lagos that will take care of everybody and not exclude anyone,” he said.
Adeoye expressed confidence in the party’s electoral prospects, attributing its chances to grassroots mobilisation. He also urged voters to reject vote-buying, describing their permanent voter cards (PVCs) as instruments of political power.
“Your PVC is the instrument in your hands. That is your power. If you are truly tired of bad governance, don’t collect money from them. Don’t let them bribe you because what they would give you won’t last you a day,” he said.
He pledged that an APM-led government would be accountable to the electorate rather than political godfathers, accusing the incumbent administration of serving the interests of a select few.
Meanwhile, APM local government chairmen in Lagos State endorsed the Makinde-Daura presidential ticket, Adeoye’s governorship candidacy and the party’s other candidates for the 2027 elections.
Speaking also on behalf of the chairman, Isiaka Sodeinde, restated the commitment to the reset agenda and declared support for the APM-PDP alliance.
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