Why I decided to challenge Tinubu for 2027 Presidency — Makinde

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has explained why he withdrew his support for President Bola Tinubu and decided to challenge him in the 2027 presidential election, saying he no longer believes the administration is taking Nigeria in the right direction.

Makinde, who supported Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, said his decision to contest against the President was not borne out of a personal disagreement or an ambition to occupy Aso Rock but concerns about the country’s future and the opportunities available to Nigerians.

The governor gave the explanation in a lengthy statement published on his campaign platform, Reset Nigeria, on Thursday, where he outlined his political journey, his assessment of the Tinubu administration and his vision for the country.

He said he initially backed Tinubu because he believed the President could bring Nigerians together and establish a government of national unity and competence that would address the country’s economic challenges.

However, he said his assessment had changed after three years of the administration.

“I supported President Tinubu because I believed he could bring people together to build a government of national unity and competence. I believed his administration would confront our economic challenges while creating opportunities for Nigerians to build better lives.

“Three years later, I no longer believe his administration is taking us in that direction,” he said.

Explaining the personal experiences that shaped his political ambition, Makinde said he grew up in a lower-middle-class family where his father was a teacher who later retrained as an accountant, while his mother worked as a telephone operator in the civil service.

He said although his family was not wealthy, he grew up in a Nigeria where ordinary families believed education, hard work and determination could provide their children with better opportunities.

Makinde said he attended Bishop Phillips Academy in Ibadan before proceeding to the University of Lagos, where he studied Electrical Engineering.

He later specialised in industrial measurement and safety systems and established Makon Engineering and Technical Services at the age of 29.

According to him, the business grew beyond Nigeria despite his not coming from a wealthy or politically connected background.

“I did not achieve this because I came from a wealthy or politically connected family. I had an education, acquired useful skills, found opportunities and worked to make the most of them.

“Nigeria gave me the opportunity to live my dreams. And that is what troubles me about the Nigeria we have today,” he said.

The governor questioned whether young Nigerians could still expect similar opportunities, particularly in completing their education, acquiring useful skills, securing meaningful employment and establishing businesses.

He said his ambition was to help create a country where Nigerians could reasonably expect hard work and determination to translate into better living conditions.

Why I entered politics

Makinde said he initially sought to contribute to society through philanthropy, supporting education, individuals and families, and other community initiatives.

However, he said he eventually realised that personal financial assistance could only reach a limited number of people, while millions of Nigerians needed access to similar opportunities.

He said this informed his decision to enter politics and seek public office.

The governor recalled that between 2007 and 2015, he contested for the Senate twice and ran for governor but lost the elections.

He said he remained committed to his ambition and eventually won the Oyo State governorship election in 2019.

“I entered office without a political godfather. I have often said that I had no godfather, only God the Father,” he said.

Makinde said his experience in government had given him the opportunity to translate his ideas into policies, adding that he was proud of the achievements recorded in Oyo State over seven years.

He said his administration had demonstrated that governments could make a difference by creating opportunities, building institutions and following through on decisions.

The governor, however, acknowledged that governing was different from running a successful business, saying he had made mistakes, acknowledged them and apologised when necessary.

He said the experiences had strengthened his belief that Nigeria could work for its citizens.

Why I cannot wait until 2031

Makinde said his decision to contest in 2027 rather than wait until 2031 or 2035 was informed by concerns about the country’s economic direction and the future of younger generations.

He said he was worried about young Nigerians who had acquired qualifications and skills but remained unable to secure meaningful employment.

He also cited businesses struggling with electricity and transportation costs, as well as parents who were increasingly uncertain about whether their children would enjoy better living conditions.

The governor said many Nigerians had become disappointed with government and no longer believed their votes could make a difference.

“I understand that disappointment.

“We have heard promises before. We have seen governments come and go. We have been told repeatedly that things will get better.

“Yet too many Nigerians are still struggling to survive.

But I refuse to believe that this is all Nigeria can become,” he said.

He argued that decisions taken at the federal level could undermine the progress made by state governments, adding that another four years of what he described as the current trajectory could make the country’s economic and institutional challenges more difficult to reverse.

“I am concerned that if we get the next four years wrong, the damage to our economy, our institutions and the prospects of another generation could become much harder to reverse.

“That is why I cannot wait. And it is why I believe we must change direction in 2027,” he said.

Why I lost confidence in Tinubu

Makinde listed four major areas of concern about the Tinubu administration, including economic stability without corresponding development, what he described as governance by excuses, the pursuit of political power instead of national unity, and economic reforms without adequate protection for Nigerians.

On the economy, he acknowledged improvements in some macroeconomic indicators but argued that government revenue and external reserves would mean little to ordinary citizens if they did not translate into productive businesses, jobs, improved incomes and better living conditions.

He also faulted what he described as the administration’s continued reliance on inherited challenges to explain its performance.

“Every government inherits problems, but it is elected to solve them. Over three years into this administration, we are still hearing explanations about inherited poverty, insecurity, electricity problems and other challenges, when Nigerians should be seeing more measurable progress towards resolving them,” he said.

On national unity, the governor said he initially believed Tinubu’s political relationships and ability to build alliances would help him bring capable Nigerians together around a shared national interest.

However, he said he had become concerned that the President’s political alliances served his political objectives more than the national interest.

Makinde also expressed concern about what he described as the weakening of opposition parties, saying they were essential to a functioning democracy.

On economic reforms, he said he supported the need to reform the petrol subsidy and foreign exchange systems but expected the policies to be implemented with adequate preparation for their consequences.

He argued that millions of Nigerians who were already struggling had been exposed to further hardship before sufficient measures were put in place to protect them.

“These are not simply political disagreements.

“They reflect a fundamental difference in how I believe government should work and whose interests should come first,” he said.

What I would have done differently

Using the removal of the petrol subsidy as an example, Makinde said he would have used the presidential transition period to prepare for the policy and put measures in place to cushion its impact on Nigerians.

He argued that Tinubu was aware of the likely consequences of an abrupt subsidy removal, recalling that the President had opposed the manner in which former President Goodluck Jonathan attempted to remove the subsidy in 2012.

Makinde also said Tinubu witnessed the petrol and naira scarcity crises preceding the 2023 general election and had publicly spoken about their effects on Nigerians.

He said that upon assuming office, he would have convened the National Economic Council to agree on a coordinated response with state governors.

According to him, the meeting would have provided an opportunity to identify the interventions required to protect Nigerians, determine how they would be funded and establish how the Federal Government, states and local governments would work together to implement them.

He added that the process would have included transparent reporting to enable Nigerians to know how much was being spent, who was benefiting and what results were being achieved.

The governor said his administration in Oyo State had demonstrated that governments could respond quickly to the economic challenges caused by subsidy removal.

He said the state immediately began consultations with organised labour and introduced measures to reduce transportation costs after the announcement of the policy.

“Within eleven days, we had announced the deployment of additional Omituntun buses, maintained existing fares and introduced half-price travel for students and senior citizens.

“We did not wait until we had a comprehensive programme before taking action,” he said.

Makinde said the state subsequently introduced the Sustainable Actions for Economic Recovery programme, also known as SAfER, in August 2023.

He said the programme provided food relief to 200,000 vulnerable households, subsidised public transportation and supported small businesses and farmers through loans and agricultural inputs.

“Our approach was simple: provide immediate relief while developing measures to help people earn a living,” he said.

He argued that good leadership required more than making economically sound decisions, insisting that governments must understand how their policies would affect the people they were elected to serve.

“Nigerians deserved better preparation and better protection.

“And that is the difference in our approach to governance,” he added.

*Makinde unveils Reset Nigeria Agenda*

The governor said he understood that many Nigerians had lost confidence in government and the electoral process but urged them not to give up on the country.

He said Nigeria had produced generations of people who achieved remarkable things because they had opportunities to learn, work, establish businesses and pursue their dreams.

Makinde said he was one of the beneficiaries of such opportunities and believed the country could provide similar chances for millions of other citizens.

He said he did not claim to have all the answers but maintained that anyone seeking the privilege of leading Nigerians must be ready to explain what they intended to do, how they planned to do it, when they would do it and how their performance would be measured.

He said his campaign had developed the Reset Nigeria Agenda to outline the changes it believed were necessary, the proposed actions and the measurable results Nigerians should expect.

The governor urged Nigerians to examine his record in Oyo State, scrutinise the proposals and challenge the assumptions behind them.

He also invited citizens to send questions, comments and suggestions to his campaign, saying rebuilding the country should begin with listening to Nigerians.

“I am not asking you to trust me blindly.

“I am asking you to examine what I am proposing and decide whether it offers a credible path towards the Nigeria we all deserve,” he said.

Makinde further pledged to serve only one four-year term if elected President, saying he would lead a transitional government of national unity focused on measurable progress.

“I have committed to serving one four-year term as President, leading a transitional government of national unity focused on measurable progress.

“I believe four years is enough to demonstrate that a different approach to governance can produce different results. And I believe we must begin now,” he said.

He urged Nigerians who had become disillusioned with elections to participate in the 2027 poll, saying it would provide another opportunity to determine the country’s direction.

“Because the Nigeria that gave me the opportunity to live my dreams should not become a country where our children can no longer dream.

“Please, do not give up on Nigeria.

Let us give our country another chance.

“Let us Reset Nigeria and build a country that works for every Nigerian.

“That is why I am running for President,” he said.

Culled From Punch