2027: Makinde promises four-year transitional Government of National Unity if elected president

The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has promised to establish a four-year transitional Government of National Unity (GNU), if elected President in 2027.

He said his administration would promote inclusivity and prevent the concentration of power in one part of the country.

Mr Makinde who is also the governor of Oyo State, made the promise on Saturday at the APM North-east 2027 Town Hall Meeting in Yola, Adamawa State

He said the proposed GNU, which he promised would not last beyond four years, would prioritise national unity and address concerns about political representation and the exclusion of some sections of the country.

“I stand before you today to tell you that the government you will put in place from May 29, 2027, will be a transitional government of national unity. Our government will not last beyond four years. And it will be an all-inclusive government,” he said.

The APM flagbearer explained that the arrangement was intended to address concerns, particularly in Northern Nigeria, about ensuring that political power was not concentrated in one part of the country to the disadvantage of others.

Mr Makinde also pledged that his administration would pursue solutions to Nigeria’s security and economic challenges through public consultation, transparency and what he described as sincere leadership.

He said the party had delayed releasing its manifesto to allow its presidential candidate to listen to citizens and understand their concerns before finalising its policy proposals.

“Our manifesto is on the way. We have deliberately delayed its release because we wanted to hear from you at this level,” he said.

Mr Makinde said his proposed administration would avoid what he described as the politics of lies and deceit, adding that it would listen to citizens and consider solutions from different sections of the country.

“2027 will mark the end of the politics of lies and deceit. It is a time when we will all come together to establish a reset agenda and tell Nigerians the whole truth,” he said.

Makinde demands disclosure of petrol pricing template

The APM candidate also challenged the federal government to publish its petroleum pricing template to enable Nigerians to understand how the prices of petroleum products are determined.

He said the government should make the document available for public scrutiny, arguing that citizens outside government could also contribute ideas towards resolving the country’s economic problems.

Mr Makinde made the demand while criticising the federal government’s handling of electricity, energy security and petroleum pricing.

He recalled President Bola Tinubu’s campaign promise to fix Nigeria’s electricity supply within four years, saying the administration had failed to fulfil its commitments.

“The current administration came in and told us that it had the magic wand to solve the challenges confronting us. As a matter of fact, the president said that if he failed to fix electricity for Nigeria in four years, Nigerians should not vote for him again.

“So, we are all aware that they have failed to provide electricity and other things they promised,” he said.

He also criticised the government’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicle policy, as well as its Naira-for-Crude initiative, describing the policies as failures.

The presidential candidate said he had listened to concerns about insecurity and poverty during visits to the North-west and North-central regions, while participants at the Yola meeting also raised concerns about electricity and energy security.

He urged the federal government to explain the basis for its petroleum pricing decisions, particularly following the finance minister’s reported comments on adopting price modulation for petroleum products.

“We are asking for only two things. We do not want too much grammar; we just want relief for Nigerians. So, we ask the federal government to release its pricing template so that citizens will know how they arrived at the current petroleum price,” Mr Makinde, who was a player in the oil sector, said.

He added that Nigerians with relevant knowledge and expertise should be allowed to contribute to policy discussions, regardless of whether they held public office.

“The fact that you are in government or the Presidential Villa does not make you the only Nigerians with sense. We have other citizens who can dissect issues and proffer solutions,” he said.

Mr Makinde said his proposed administration would seek solutions to the country’s challenges without undermining citizens’ rights or playing politics with issues affecting their welfare.

Bala Mohammed backs Makinde’s presidential ambition

The National Leader of the APM and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, expressed support for Mr Makinde’s presidential ambition, describing the party as a political force with elected officials and members experienced in governance.

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Mr Mohammed said the party had continued to attract new members and expressed confidence in its capacity to contribute to Nigeria’s political development.

He welcomed the presidential candidate to the North-east and said the party supported inclusivity, mutual respect and opportunities for people from different parts of the country.

“We believe in Nigeria. We believe in the Nigerian state. We are patriots. We believe in giving people opportunities from all sections of the country,” he said.

Mr Mohammed also expressed support for Mr Makinde’s proposed agenda to reset the country.

The APM’s vice presidential candidate, Lawal Daura, said the party intended to campaign on a platform of honesty, patriotism and a commitment to addressing Nigeria’s challenges.

He said the party would present details of its proposals when its national campaign commenced.

Mr Daura argued that Nigeria needed a reset to address its persistent challenges and called on Nigerians committed to public service to support the party’s agenda.

“It is not an easy task, and it will only require very serious-minded Nigerians to be in APM. But we are determined to reset Nigeria for the good of all,” he stated.