Makinde faults Tinubu’s legacy roads projects

The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has criticised the Federal Government’s ongoing legacy road projects, arguing that greater attention should be given to rehabilitating existing major roads across the country.

Makinde spoke at the unveiling of the party’s National Assembly candidates in Osun State. He was represented at the event by a member of the APM Elders Forum in Oyo State, Tunde Tijani.

He said an APM administration, if elected, would prioritise projects based on their impact on citizens rather than embark on what he described as unnecessary large-scale projects.

Makinde urged Nigerian youths to participate actively in the political process, saying greater youth involvement was necessary to influence the country’s leadership and policies.

He said the APM would seek to replicate the road construction and networking approach adopted in Oyo State across the country, with emphasis on rehabilitating existing roads and improving connectivity.

“What we are saying is constructing new road projects, legacy roads, is of no use when the existing roads are death traps,” he said.

Makinde, who was quoted as describing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Badagry-Sokoto road as wasteful projects, said an APM administration would review such large-scale projects.

“When you get to Oyo State, you will see how strategic the roads construction are linked, Oke-Ogun areas linked to Ogbomoso, Ibadan to Ibarapa before embarking on internal roads and we have been successful.

“That is the type of policy and programmes we will introduce if you vote APM and Makinde as the President of Nigeria in January 2027,” he said.

APM candidate urges youth participation

Speaking after the presentation of candidates, the APM candidate for Osun Central Senatorial District, Dr Ibrahim Adekunle, said the party was providing a platform for young people to participate in leadership.

He urged youths to become more actively involved in politics and seek elective positions.

“It is time to relegate the older politicians from political offices. I want to charge the youth to use me as the beginning of this,” he said.

Adekunle said young Nigerians should demand accountability from elected representatives rather than rely on pleas for political attention.

“We must stop begging and pleading for what is truly ours from the political office holders. I am one of you and I know and understand your plights. I am ready to represent you well in the Senate if elected,” he said.

He also urged voters in Osun State, particularly youths, to reject violence and allow the 2027 elections to take place peacefully.

“Let us eschew politics of bitterness and violence, but let us embrace peaceful election for the emergence of all the candidates of our party in 2027,” he said.

Earlier, the Osun APM Chairman, Adewale Adebayo, called for increased youth mobilisation ahead of the election.

He said the party had fielded what he described as competent young candidates for elective positions as part of its effort to increase youth participation in governance.