• Promises to turn oil wealth into prosperity
• Pledges tax breaks, education reforms, jobs
• Says RESET agenda will tackle insecurity, economic hardship
The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has pledged to tackle insecurity and militancy in the Niger Delta, promising to transform the region’s oil wealth into prosperity for its people.
Makinde, who spoke on Tuesday at the APM Presidential Campaign Organisation’s South-South Town Hall Meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, also accused the Federal Government of imposing additional financial burdens on poor Nigerians instead of creating conditions for wealth generation.
The Oyo State governor said his proposed RESET agenda would address Nigeria’s structural challenges through reforms in education, security, entrepreneurship and governance.
He argued that the Niger Delta, despite its vast oil and gas resources, continued to grapple with poverty, environmental pollution and limited economic opportunities.
“The challenges around here. I understand the issues of pollution. I understand, just as I listened yesterday, when somebody said, ‘This is a rich region, but with poor people,’” Makinde said.
He explained that the RESET agenda was designed to change Nigeria’s development trajectory and ensure that citizens benefited more from the country’s natural and human resources.
“The RESET agenda is simply to ensure that if Nigeria has not worked well for you as an individual, the way it should, then let us reset Nigeria,” he said.
Makinde targets militancy, insecurity
On security, the APM candidate acknowledged that militancy in the Niger Delta had reduced to some extent but maintained that significant challenges remained.
He pledged to reform the country’s security architecture and pursue a comprehensive approach to tackling militancy and other threats to lives and property.
Makinde also identified education and skills development as critical pillars of his proposed administration, arguing that a skilled population would create opportunities for young people and support the growth of a strong middle class.
He recalled his experience of moving into the South-South region with his academic qualifications and professional skills, saying he secured opportunities despite initially having no established connections in the area.
“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,” he said.
‘Tax wealth, not poverty’
Makinde criticised the Federal Government’s tax policies, insisting that taxation should be structured to support productivity and economic growth rather than worsen hardship for low-income earners.
“You are supposed to tax wealth. You are not supposed to tax poverty. But they are only interested in taxing poverty,” he said.
He called for policies that would encourage entrepreneurship, enable businesses to expand and create jobs, while giving enterprises room to grow without excessive tax burdens.
Citing his administration’s experience in Oyo State, Makinde claimed that the state had increased its internally generated revenue without raising taxes on citizens.
“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,” he said.
The APM candidate argued that states should reduce excessive dependence on federal allocations by expanding productive economic activities and supporting private-sector investment.
He also questioned whether federal interventions, including the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and the naira-for-crude arrangement, had translated into lower transportation costs for Nigerians.
Makinde challenged the Federal Government to publish the pricing framework behind its petroleum policies, saying independent experts could assess the figures and suggest ways to reduce the burden on consumers.
“Has it translated into lower transportation costs for millions of Nigerians?” he asked.
“My question is very simple. Let us assume that we are not even smart. I am not saying we are smart. But provide Nigerians with your pricing template. We have Nigerians who can tell us how to make it work for millions of Nigerians,” he added.
Questions over LNG dividends
Makinde also renewed his criticism of the Federal Government over Nigeria LNG dividend payments, alleging that nearly ₦250 billion due to each state had been withheld.
He argued that revenue paid into the Federation Account should be distributed among the federal, state and local governments in accordance with the Constitution.
The governor called for the disclosure of relevant figures and clarification on how the dividends had been treated, maintaining that he stood by his earlier claims.
The Federal Government’s response to the allegation was not presented at the town hall meeting.
On the 2027 elections, Makinde alleged that efforts were being made to prevent opposition parties from uniting. He expressed confidence that the South-South would support the APM, citing his interpretation of the region’s voting patterns in the 2023 general election.
Bala Mohammed backs Makinde
Earlier, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed urged Nigerians to look beyond money and age when choosing their leaders, saying candidates should be assessed on their records, experience and capacity to deliver.
Mohammed described Makinde and his running mate, Lawal Musa Daura, as leaders with the experience and vision to address Nigeria’s challenges.
He said the town hall meeting provided an opportunity for South-South residents to examine the region’s economic potential and consider how effective leadership could translate its resources into improved living standards.
The governor also called for greater engagement between political leaders and citizens, saying the APM’s proposed approach to governance should be based on consultation and public participation.
“We are leading by persuasion. We are leading by stakeholder engagement. We are leading with a spirit of togetherness in a new Nigeria,” Mohammed said.
Daura, Dantelle seek change
The APM vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Musa Daura, said the party was determined to break what he described as a cycle of political promises without meaningful progress.
He said the RESET agenda was designed to restore dignity to Nigerians through improvements in education, security, economic opportunities and general welfare.
Daura maintained that the country’s resources should translate into better living standards for citizens, adding that the party’s philosophy placed national interest above personal and political considerations.
“APM stands for justice. APM stands for politics without lies. APM is a party that is devoid of deceit. It is a patriotic party, a group of patriots, a group of nationalists, and a group whose main focus is Nigeria,” he said.
The APM National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantelle, also called for a fundamental review of Nigeria’s governance model, arguing that persistent insecurity, poverty and inequality reflected structural problems requiring urgent attention.
He said Nigerians continued to face the threat of kidnapping and other violent crimes while travelling, visiting markets and carrying out everyday activities.
Dantelle argued that tackling insecurity required addressing the socioeconomic conditions that contribute to criminality, including poverty, inequality, deprivation and hopelessness.
He said Nigeria could not continue with the same policies and expect different outcomes, insisting that the country needed a new direction capable of restoring public confidence and national pride.
