Makinde vows Nigeria reset within four years
Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has pledged to “reset” Nigeria within four years if elected president in 2027, unveiling a reform agenda centred on security, education, economic planning and national unity.
Speaking on Monday at the APM North-Central Town Hall Meeting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Makinde said his administration would pursue far-reaching reforms aimed at rebuilding key institutions and improving living standards across the country.
*Makinde
Nkereuwem Effiong
Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has pledged to “reset” Nigeria within four years if elected president in 2027, unveiling a reform agenda centred on security, education, economic planning and national unity.
Speaking on Monday at the APM North-Central Town Hall Meeting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Makinde said his administration would pursue far-reaching reforms aimed at rebuilding key institutions and improving living standards across the country.
According to him, the proposed agenda would introduce a new security architecture, reposition the education sector, strengthen the economy through data-driven policies, and reform Nigeria’s socio-political environment.
“We can reset and give Nigeria a new security architecture, a new path for education, our economy utilising data, science and logic, and our socio-political environment in four years,” he said.
Makinde argued that major national reforms could be achieved within a single presidential term, citing Nigeria’s transition from military rule to democracy as evidence that significant change can occur within a short period.
As part of his vision, he said an APM-led government would operate as a transitional administration of national unity designed to lay the foundation for sustainable development and wider political participation.
Earlier, in a post on X, the governor said the party’s North-Central engagement was focused on developing a collective strategy for national renewal.
“We will work together to reset Nigeria so that it works for all Nigerians,” he wrote.
Makinde also criticised the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity, particularly in the North-Central region, questioning the planning and funding behind the establishment of additional military formations.
He said he could not identify budgetary provisions for some of the newly announced army divisions in the 2026 budget and argued that tackling insecurity requires clear planning and adequate funding.
The governor further questioned whether increased allocations from the Federation Account to state governments had translated into meaningful improvements in citizens’ welfare.
“Yes, states now receive more money, but has it translated into reducing hunger and improving the lives of Nigerians? The answer is no,” he said.
Speaking on Oyo State’s finances, Makinde said his administration had reduced the state’s dependence on federal allocations from more than 80 per cent in 2019 to about 65 per cent in 2022. However, he noted that rising revenues following the removal of the fuel subsidy had increased states’ reliance on federal allocations once again.
He described the current economic approach as ineffective, arguing that it has failed to deliver significant benefits to ordinary Nigerians.
The remarks form part of Makinde’s early campaign message as political parties begin positioning ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
