The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has pledged to establish an all-inclusive transitional government of national unity that will not last beyond four years if elected president in 2027.
Makinde made the pledge on Saturday while addressing the party’s North-East Zonal Town Hall Meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, as part of his consultations with Nigerians ahead of the general elections.
He said his proposed administration, which would begin on May 29, 2027, would prioritise national unity, inclusiveness, honesty and practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges, rather than concentrating political power in one part 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 Oyo State governor also challenged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to publish its petroleum pricing template to enable Nigerians to understand how petrol prices are determined amid rising living costs.
Makinde criticised the Federal Government’s policies on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), electric vehicles and the naira-for-crude initiative, arguing that they had failed to provide the expected relief to Nigerians.
“They came up with the presidential policy on CNG and electric vehicles. That policy failed. They came up with the naira-for-crude initiative. That policy also failed.
“Yesterday, I listened to the Minister of Finance (Taiwo Oyedele) on television. He said they are now adopting price modulation for petroleum products,” he said.
The APM candidate said Nigerians needed practical solutions to the rising cost of living rather than complicated explanations, urging the Federal Government to make its pricing calculations public.
“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 and let Nigerians see how things go. If they have a better solution, they will present it,” Makinde said.
He argued that occupying the Presidential Villa did not make government officials the only people capable of finding solutions to the country’s problems, adding that citizens outside government also had the knowledge to contribute to policymaking.
“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. So, please make your pricing template available to all, and we will make our input,” he said.
Makinde also accused the Tinubu administration of failing to fulfil some of its campaign promises, particularly in the power sector. He recalled the President’s pledge that Nigerians should not re-elect him if he failed to fix electricity within four years.
He said his consultations across the North-West, North-Central and North-East had highlighted recurring challenges, including insecurity, poverty and inadequate electricity, which he pledged to address through an inclusive approach to governance.
“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. Nigeria is home to several million people. We are the most populous Black nation on the face of the earth. We do not deserve what we are getting right now,” he said.
The presidential candidate explained that the party had delayed the release of its manifesto to enable it to consult citizens across the country and incorporate their concerns into its proposed policies.
He promised that an APM administration would listen to Nigerians, respect their rights and avoid politicising issues affecting their welfare.
Addressing the meeting, the APM National Leader and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, described the party as a credible opposition platform with the experience and leadership to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
Mohammed said the party had continued to attract members and expressed confidence in Makinde’s capacity to lead what he described as a national renewal agenda.
“APM is the number one opposition party in the country. We have two governors and other elected leaders.
“Whether we like it or not, we are a force to reckon with. Whoever does not reckon with us is going to do so at his or her peril,” he said.
Welcoming Makinde and his delegation to the North-East, Mohammed said the party was committed to patriotism, equal opportunities and mutual respect among Nigerians, irrespective of their backgrounds.
“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. We believe in inclusivity and mutual respect. We believe in non-tribal initiatives, and we believe you have the capacity to reset Nigeria,” he added.
The party’s vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Daura, thanked residents of the North-East for welcoming the delegation to Yola, describing the APM as a platform for honest, patriotic and hardworking Nigerians.
Daura, a former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), said the party would unveil its detailed policy proposals during the national campaign, when its leaders would visit states to explain their programmes and vision to voters.
He argued that Nigeria needed fundamental reforms to address its challenges, warning that the country risked stagnation without a determined effort to improve governance.
“First, it is a party populated by honest, patriotic people. It is a party whose root cry is against lies.
“It is not a party of deceit or of anything goes. Rather, APM is a party that is so serious about work. With the permission of my presidential candidate, I always say we are ready to Reset Nigeria,” Daura said.
Earlier, party stakeholders and supporters had gathered at Yola Airport to welcome Makinde and his delegation, chanting his name and waving the APM flag.
Credit: Nigerian Tribune