Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has launched a strong criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, arguing that the simultaneous removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira have worsened the economic hardship faced by millions of Nigerians.
Makinde’s position was conveyed on Monday in Abeokuta through a national leader of the APM, Mr Babatunde Tijani, during the official presentation of the party’s deputy governorship candidate in Ogun State, Mrs Deborah Abosede Akinlade, alongside its National Assembly and House of Assembly candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The governor maintained that implementing the two major economic policies simultaneously, without adequate relief measures, placed an unbearable burden on citizens and the nation’s economy.
According to him: “How can a person just decide one day that he will remove the fuel subsidy without any cushioning effect or any palliative to fill the gap? At the same time, they still went ahead and floated the naira.”
He argued that the combined impact of both policies had significantly increased the cost of living across the country.
“These two policies have further made life difficult for Nigerians. It is an economic policy that no nation, even advanced countries, can take at the same time.”
Makinde also questioned the Federal Government’s claims of economic improvement, pointing to rising fuel prices, persistent inflation and fluctuations in the foreign exchange market.
He asked: “Now, how many people can take three square meals a day? How much were we buying fuel for before? How much is it now? They said they have stabilized the exchange rate… from how much to how much? And it will go up to ₦1,500, coming back to ₦1,300, and they will be clapping and praising themselves. Who does that?”
The governor further expressed concern over the country’s security situation, saying Nigerians no longer enjoy the level of safety they once did.
Explaining the objective of the political gathering, he said: “The purpose of today’s gathering is for the people to now come together, to now see for themselves that truly APM is grounded in Ogun State. That’s the message.
“We have told our people on the ground to begin massive mobilisations across local governments and the wards, just to tell the people that they are in a new party to rescue Nigerians from unnecessary sufferings and hardship.
“This is a party that is ready to alleviate the suffering of the masses. And the message is that we have to reset Nigeria in terms of everything: economy, security-wise, as you can see now. Before now, you could sleep with your two eyes closed, but things have changed.”
Makinde urged members of the party to remain united and intensify mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 elections, expressing confidence that the APM offers Nigerians a credible alternative for national leadership.
Also speaking at the event, the Ogun State Chairman of the APM and Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Comrade Abayomi Sanyaolu, delivered a harsh assessment of the APC-led Federal Government, saying its overall performance fell far below expectations.
According to him: “The present administration is totally poor. If I want to give them an assessment out of 100 percent, I can only give them 35 percent. We should stop the issue of exchanging our birthright for ₦10,000 or ₦20,000.
“People should say no to all these exchanges of our lives because if you collect ₦20,000 for your vote, they will use four or eight years on the throne.”
Sanyaolu expressed optimism that the APM would rebuild its political base in Ogun State and emerge as a major force capable of driving economic recovery across the country.
The party’s governorship candidate in Ogun State, Rotimi Babajide, also appealed to voters to reject vote-buying and support the APM, promising grassroots-oriented governance focused on food security, employment generation, quality education, healthcare delivery, road infrastructure and policies aimed at improving the welfare of the people.
(Ripples)