Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over budget implementation, alleged nepotism and what he described as the prioritisation of regional interests over national development.
Makinde spoke at the South-West Town Hall meeting in Akure, Ondo State, where he called for a fundamental reset of Nigeria’s economic and security systems ahead of the 2027 general election.
He questioned the Federal Government’s budget implementation, asking whether the administration was operating the 2023, 2024 or 2026 budget. He contrasted this with his administration’s performance in Oyo State, claiming that budget implementation had improved from between 28 and 30 per cent before he assumed office to over 70 per cent under his leadership.
The governor said Oyo State had maintained a January-to-December budget cycle for more than seven years, with budgets presented and passed before the beginning of each fiscal year.
Makinde also condemned what he described as a culture of nepotism and regional entitlement, arguing that political leaders should distribute opportunities and execute projects based on national needs rather than personal, political or geographical interests.
He cited the 1999 presidential election, in which former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Olu Falae, both from the South-West, contested against each other, as an example of the region’s political diversity. He maintained that the emergence of a presidential candidate from the region should not prevent other candidates from contesting.
Under his proposed Reset Nigeria agenda, Makinde said he would prioritise education, security, infrastructure development and economic opportunities for young people and women. He also called on eligible Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate in the 2027 elections.
The governor defended his presidential ambition, insisting that voters should assess candidates based on their records, policies and capacity to address the country’s challenges rather than regional considerations or age alone.
Also speaking, APM National Chairman Yusuf Dantelle called for changes in governance, criticising petroleum pricing, insecurity and what he described as declining public confidence in democratic institutions.
Dantelle urged Nigerians to support the party’s Reset Nigeria agenda, stressing that addressing the country’s challenges required cooperation across ethnic, religious and political divides.
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