The presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has said the party will partner with other opposition political parties to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative in the 2027 general elections.
Oyo State governor, Makinde, spoke on Thursday at the APM national convention, held at the Dr Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu Square, Government House, Bauchi.
The governor was quoted to have stressed that the survival of democracy depends on strong opposition and urged the new leadership of the party to work with other opposition groups in readiness for the 2027 elections.
“As I have said, the presence of a credible opposition is the lifeblood of democracy. “Therefore, our new leaders must be prepared to work with other opposition parties to ensure that we give Nigeria an incredible alternative in the 2027 general election,” Makinde said.
He said the next general election should be based on verifiable improvement in the lives of the Nigerian people and not on political sloganeering, campaign promises and government announcements.
“Governors have used announcements as a yardstick for too long. “We are presented with policy after policy, instead of evidence of where those policies have improved people’s lives,” he said.
Makinde said the economic policies were felt by Nigerians in terms of their purchasing power and the impact of government policies should be measured by its effect on daily life.
Our mothers go to the market and they experience economic policy as a statistic. They feel it in what they can buy with their money, how much rice, how much beans, how much they can take home.
“We see a press statement on job creation policy. The experience is can you find productive work,” he added.
“The governors should be judged on productivity, access to market, improved welfare and security of families and not the number of programs launched or security meetings held,” the governor said.
“Security is not about the number of security meetings held at Government House. “It is whether people come home and sleep with their two eyes shut,” he said.
He said the 2027 election should be about ideas and evidence, with political candidates telling Nigerians how their policies would translate into visible improvements in their lives.
“The election in 2027 should not only be about what government has done. “It should be about what has changed for Nigerians.”
“And we who pretend to be alternatives must answer the question, precisely what will we do differently and what measurable difference should Nigeria expect to see?” he said.
The APM candidate said, the areas that need urgent attention are poverty reduction, productive jobs for young people, quality education and effective security.
He also called for a stronger federal structure to devolve more decisions and resources to the people and improve accountability.
“We need a federation that brings more decisions and resources closer to the people and accountability for results,” Makinde said.
He also called for a political system that could restore confidence between the leadership and the citizens, saying political differences should not turn opponents into enemies.
We want a politics in which disagreement doesn’t make us enemies; a politics where opposition is not only about removing those in power, but about presenting a credible and showing a better alternative,” he said.
Makinde said the ultimate goal ahead of the 2027 elections should be to present Nigerians with a real choice as regards the future of the country.
“The work that lies ahead of all of us is bigger than winning an election. It is to give Nigerians a real choice for the future of their country.
“Let the campaign ahead be a campaign on issues. Let’s argue the evidence.” Let us have a comparison of records. He asked, “Let all those seeking to lead Nigerians answer one simple question: How will the lives of Nigerians be better because we were given the chance to lead?
