I will fix education, solve militancy in Niger-delta – Makinde

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The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has said his Reset Nigeria Agenda will fix Nigera’s education, security, economy and socio-political structure if elected in 2027.

The Oyo governor stated on Tuesday at the APM Presidential Campaign Organisation South-South Town Hall meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
“The first is education, because there is nowhere in the world where democracy will thrive without a thriving middle class.
“For you to have a thriving middle class, material resources alone will not lead to economic prosperity. What will lead to economic prosperity includes skills and knowledge.

“I didn’t know anybody when I came to this region, but I came with the skills and my degree from the University of Lagos, and you gave me the opportunity. We want that for every Nigerian, including the youth.

“So, we will reset education and reset our security architecture. We know about the issue of militancy in this zone. Yes, it has gone down a little bit, but the problem is still not solved. The RESET agenda will ensure that the issue of militancy is solved completely.

“We will reset our economy. We will not all keep waiting for handouts from the federal allocation, because to expand our economy, we need two other elements. You need entrepreneurs. I started my own company at the age of 29. I employed engineers. I took the risk on behalf of the state because government alone cannot provide the employment and expansion that we need.”

He faulted the tax system of the current administration, saying it is targeted at the poor and vulnerable in the society.
“So, we will ensure that we encourage entrepreneurs. We will ensure that people have tax breaks. And if you ask me whether we have done it before, yes, I did it in Oyo State. We increased Oyo State’s IGR without raising taxes on anybody. The records are there.

*But just as Senator Ireti Kingibe said a few days ago, they have passed a tax law that is not consistent with productivity. You are supposed to tax wealth. You are not supposed to tax poverty. But, they are only interested in taxing poverty,” he said.