Tinubu’s Policies Plunged Nigerians Into Hardship From Day One, Says Makinde

The 2027 presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Engr. Seyi Makinde, has criticised the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying their implementation without adequate planning plunged Nigerians into difficult living conditions from the outset.

Makinde also described insecurity as a major challenges confronting the country, stressing the need for fundamental reforms to address Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.

He spoke during a live interview on Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC) in Bauchi on Friday night monitored by our Correspondent, ahead of the flag off of his presidential campaign scheduled for Saturday.

The APM candidate said the challenges facing the country informed the development of his party’s Reset Nigeria Agenda, which he described as a comprehensive plan to address the nation’s problems and put it on the path of sustainable development.

According to him, the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians began almost immediately after the present administration assumed office, following the announcement of major policy decisions without a clearly articulated implementation framework.

He argued that policies of such national importance required adequate planning and coordination to minimise their negative effects on citizens.

Makinde also identified fundamental socio-political issues that, according to him, must be addressed to strengthen the country’s unity and federal structure.

He said Nigeria’s founding fathers negotiated a federal republic that recognises the existence of different nationalities within one country, adding that the country’s diversity should be harnessed as a source of strength rather than division.

“Nigeria was established by our founding fathers, who negotiated a federal republic. This means we must acknowledge that there are several nations within one nation. We must, therefore, find a way to work together, ensuring that our diversity becomes a source of unity as we pursue a common goal,” he said.

Explaining the major components of the APM’s Reset Nigeria Agenda, Makinde said his party had identified key areas requiring urgent reforms and outlined the reasons such changes were necessary in its manifesto.

He expressed confidence that the proposed reforms addressed fundamental challenges facing the country, arguing that getting those areas right would place Nigeria on the path to sustainable development.

The presidential candidate said the party had developed a documented policy framework outlining its vision for the country and the practical measures required to achieve its objectives.

“When we developed the Reset Agenda for the country, it was informed by our firsthand experience of challenges relating to coordination and the over-centralisation of power,” he said.

He explained that the agenda was built around four major pillars, arranged according to priority, with the economy occupying the foremost position.

Makinde said the ultimate objective was to ensure that government policies translated into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

“We want Nigerians to feel the impact of our policies, and that is precisely what we intend to address,” he added.