Makinde-Daura 2027: Nigeria must be rescued from economic hardship, insecurity — APM Chairman

The National Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, has called for a collective effort to rescue Nigeria from economic hardship, insecurity and challenges threatening democratic governance.

Dantalle made the call at the Makinde-Daura 2027 Presidency Southwest Town Hall Meeting held at the Ondo State International Conference Centre, The Dome, in Akure, Ondo State.

He urged Nigerians to put aside political, religious and ethnic differences and work together towards building a country that serves the interests of all citizens.

“The message is very simple: Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we must come together to rescue our country,” he said.

Dantalle lamented that despite Nigeria’s abundant natural and human resources, many citizens continued to struggle with rising prices, high living costs and declining purchasing power.

He questioned why Nigerians were not adequately benefiting from the country’s resources, stressing the need for responsible leadership and effective management of national wealth.

The APM chairman also expressed concern over the security situation, citing killings, attacks on communities and persistent threats to lives and property across the country.

He called for stronger efforts to protect citizens while raising concerns about freedom of expression and the accountability of public officials.

On democratic governance, Dantalle said elected representatives must demonstrate a genuine commitment to the welfare of the people rather than merely occupy political offices.

“We have a National Assembly that is supposed to represent the people. But representation must mean more than occupying political offices,” he said.

He also stressed the need to protect the integrity of elections, arguing that the will of the electorate must be respected at all times.

According to him, democracy loses its value when voters begin to doubt whether their choices will be upheld after an election.

“We must defend the integrity of our electoral process and ensure that the people’s mandate is respected,” he said.

Dantalle maintained that the struggle for national renewal should transcend political affiliations, ethnic identities and religious differences.

“This is not about one individual, one political party, one religion or one ethnic group. It is about the future of Nigeria. Political parties will come and go, and governments will change, but Nigeria will remain our common home,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to hold governments accountable based on their performance, adding that leaders who failed to meet the expectations of the people should be replaced through the democratic process.

The APM chairman further warned against a culture that tolerates dishonesty and injustice, noting that the values upheld today would influence the next generation.

“The issue is not about personalities or political titles. It is about the cost of living, security, justice, accountability and the future we want to build for our children,” he said.

He described Nigeria as a country richly endowed with natural and human resources but challenged by the inability to manage them effectively for the common good.

Dantalle called on Nigerians to unite in pursuit of a country where citizens could live in peace, enjoy economic opportunities and have confidence in public institutions.

“Nobody will fix Nigeria for us unless we collectively decide to fix it ourselves. We must take the necessary steps to put our country back on the right path,” he said.

He urged citizens to support the movement for a new Nigeria, where leadership would prioritise public welfare and national resources would benefit the people.

“The task before us is bigger than any individual. It is about building a nation that future generations will be proud to inherit,” Dantalle said.