Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. Photo: Oyo State Govt
The governor of Oyo State and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, Seyi Makinde, has criticised the economic policies of the All Progressives Congress-led administration under President Bola Tinubu, describing the simultaneous removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the naira as a double blow to the welfare of Nigerians.
Makinde, represented by a national leader of the party, Mr Babatunde Tijani, disclosed this on Monday in Abeokuta during the unveiling of the APM deputy governorship candidate for the state, Mrs Deborah Abosede Akinlade, as well as both the House of Assembly and National Assembly candidates for the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
Makinde lamented that no nation could withstand the twin economic shocks implemented by the APC government without adequate cushioning measures.
The governor said, “How can a person just decide one day that he will remove the fuel subsidy without any cushioning effect or any palliative to fill the gap? At the same time, they still went ahead and floated the naira.”
“These two policies have further made life difficult for Nigerians. It is an economic policy that no nation, even advanced countries, can take at the same time.”
He questioned the administration’s economic performance, expressing concern over the soaring cost of living and erratic foreign exchange rates.
“Now, how many people can take three square meals a day? How much were we buying fuel for before? How much is it now? They said they have stabilized the exchange rate… from how much to how much? And it will go up to ₦1,500, coming back to ₦1,300, and they will be clapping and praising themselves. Who does that?” he asked.
Comparing the current state of security with past eras, the governor noted that Nigerians could no longer sleep with their eyes closed due to widespread insecurity.
He explained that “The purpose of today’s gathering is for the people to now come together, to now see for themselves that truly APM is grounded in Ogun State. That’s the message.
“We have told our people on the ground to begin massive mobilisations across local governments and the wards, just to tell the people that they are in a new party to rescue Nigerians from unnecessary sufferings and hardship.
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“This is a party that is ready to alleviate the suffering of the masses. And the message is that we have to reset Nigeria in terms of everything: economy, security-wise, as you can see now. Before now, you could sleep with your two eyes closed, but things have changed.”
Highlighting the party’s governance blueprint, Makinde pointed to the infrastructure and development strides recorded under the present PDP administration in Oyo State, asserting that the APM possesses the capacity to reset Nigeria’s trajectory.
The governor urged the APM members in the state to work together in unity and go all out to mobilise for the party and chase out the APC government in 2027.
Also speaking at the event, the Ogun State Chairman of the APM and Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Comrade Abayomi Sanyaolu, scored the performance of the current APC-led Federal Government low, giving it a 35 percent rating.
Sanyaolu urged Nigerians to reject vote-buying and ensure they collect their Permanent Voter Cards to vote out the ruling party in 2027.
“The present administration is totally poor. If I want to give them an assessment out of 100 percent, I can only give them 35 percent,” Sanyaolu stated. “We should stop the issue of exchanging our birthright for ₦10,000 or ₦20,000.
“People should say no to all these exchanges of our lives because if you collect ₦20,000 for your vote, they will use four or eight years on the throne.”
He expressed optimism that the APM, represented by its cassava tuber logo signifying food and economic abundance, would reclaim its political strength in Ogun State and lead the country toward economic recovery come 2027.
The governorship candidate of the party for the state, Rotimi Babajide, also urged the residents of the state to shun vote buying and support the party to offer a credible alternative to the poor governance under APC led government.
Babajide said that his leadership would prioritize grassroots governance and rapid development, cutting across food production, job creation, qualitative education and healthcare services, a good network of roads, among other initiatives that are tailored towards ensuring the prosperity of all in the state.
