Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Monday blamed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidy and float the naira at the same time for the hardship facing Nigerians, saying no country could introduce both policies together without measures to protect its people.
He made this known in Abeokuta during the unveiling of the APM’s deputy governorship candidate, House of Assembly candidates and National Assembly candidates for Ogun State ahead of the 2027 general election.
The event gave the APM an opportunity to present its candidates and outline its campaign message for the next general election.
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Party leaders used the gathering to criticise the Federal Government’s handling of the economy and security, while asking members to begin mobilisation in every part of Ogun State.
Makinde was represented by the party’s national leader, Mr Babatunde Tijani.
Makinde questions government’s economic decisions
Makinde said introducing fuel subsidy removal and floating the naira almost simultaneously placed an unbearable burden on Nigerians.
“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 said.
He said both policies had worsened living conditions and insisted that even advanced countries would struggle to absorb such economic measures without protecting their citizens.
“It is an economic policy that no nation, even advanced countries, can take at the same time,” he said.
Makinde also questioned the government’s claims on the exchange rate, saying ordinary Nigerians were still battling high prices.
“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 stabilised 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?” he asked.
He also spoke about insecurity, saying many Nigerians no longer enjoyed the sense of safety they once had.
APM presents candidates and begins campaign
Makinde said the unveiling of Mrs Deborah Abosede Akinlade as the party’s deputy governorship candidate, together with its House of Assembly and National Assembly candidates, was intended to show that the APM was prepared for the 2027 election in Ogun State.
“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,” he said.
He disclosed that party members had already been directed to begin mobilisation in all local government areas and wards.
“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.”
Makinde said the APM wanted to offer Nigerians a different direction. He also pointed to infrastructure and development projects executed under the current Peoples Democratic Party administration in Oyo State, saying they showed the party had the capacity to govern the country.
Also addressing party members, Ogun State APM Chairman and Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council, Comrade Abayomi Sanyaolu, gave the APC led Federal Government a performance score of 35 per cent.
“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,” he said.
Sanyaolu asked Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter Cards and reject vote buying.
“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,” he said.
He also expressed confidence that the APM, whose symbol is a cassava tuber, would regain its political strength in Ogun State and lead Nigeria towards economic recovery after the 2027 election.
The party’s governorship candidate in Ogun State, Rotimi Babajide, also appealed to residents to reject vote buying and support the APM. He said his administration would give priority to grassroots governance, food production, job creation, quality education, healthcare services and road in frastructure to improve the welfare of the people.
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