The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, has promised to restore security, revive tourism and drive economic development in Plateau State as part of his RESET Nigeria agenda if elected President in 2027.
Makinde made the promise on Monday during the APM presidential campaign rally in Jos, where he urged Plateau residents to support his presidential ambition and mobilise voters at the grassroots ahead of the general election.
He described Plateau as a state blessed with enormous tourism potential, arguing that improved security would unlock its natural attractions, attract visitors and create employment opportunities for residents.
The Oyo State governor said Jos’ pleasant weather and natural environment could make it a leading tourism destination in Nigeria and beyond if the security challenges affecting the state were addressed.
“I would have preferred this rally to have been held in the evening because, since I arrived, I have enjoyed the cool weather in Jos every evening. This tells us that if we get security right, people will come to Plateau State for tourism,” he said.
Makinde identified security as a major pillar of his RESET Agenda, insisting that a safer environment would encourage investment, stimulate economic activities, revive tourism and provide opportunities for young Nigerians.
He urged party supporters to take the campaign message to their communities and polling units, stressing that electoral victories were secured through grassroots mobilisation.
“Elections are won at the unit level. Go back to your units with the RESET message. If Nigeria is not working for you, then let us reset it,” he said.
The APM candidate said his vision was to build a country that would work for every Nigerian, irrespective of geographical location, social status or background.
He also accused rival political parties of borrowing ideas from his campaign, claiming that the growing adoption of similar messages showed that the RESET Agenda was gaining political traction.
“When we unveiled our RESET Agenda, I said in Abuja that they would soon start stealing our ideas. Now they have started,” he said.
Makinde challenged Nigerians to assess the performance of the present administration and determine whether the country was delivering the prosperity and improved living conditions citizens deserved.
He called on Plateau residents to reject what he described as oppression and join the APM in pursuing a new direction for the country.
“Join me in building a Nigeria that will work for you, work for me and work for our children,” he told the crowd.
Also speaking, the APM vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Daura, said the party was in Plateau to seek the people’s mandate and offer Nigerians what he described as a credible political alternative.
Daura recalled Plateau’s reputation as a peaceful destination renowned for tourism, lamenting that insecurity and other challenges had undermined the state’s attractiveness.
He said he had visited Plateau several times in the past because of its natural attractions, expressing concern over developments that had affected its reputation.
“Plateau has been a state of peace and tranquillity, a home of tourism where anything good used to be found,” he said.
The vice-presidential candidate assured residents that the APM was committed to restoring peace, security and development in Plateau and other parts of the country.
In his remarks, the APM National Chairman, Yusuf Dantelle, criticised the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians, questioning whether the policy had translated into the improved living conditions promised by the Federal Government.
Dantelle said rising living costs had worsened the economic hardship facing citizens, while insecurity continued to prevent farmers from accessing their farmlands, with consequences for food production and national food security.
“Subsidy has been withdrawn, according to the Federal Government, for one purpose: to give Nigerians a better life. But are we better off after that?” he asked.
He said the APM was offering Nigerians an alternative focused on improving citizens’ welfare, promoting equitable distribution of public resources and ensuring accountability in governance.
Dantelle urged supporters to take the party’s message to their respective communities and mobilise voters ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We are here on a rescue mission, all of us,” he said.
He further pledged that the party would operate within the provisions of the Constitution and uphold democratic principles and accountability.
The rally attracted party supporters and other stakeholders in Jos, with APM leaders urging Plateau residents to embrace the RESET Agenda and support Makinde’s presidential ambition in the 2027 general election.
