Ahead of the 2027 election, the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, Seyi Makinde; the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi; the APM National Leader and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; and other opposition figures have unveiled a “Reset Nigeria” agenda, expressing confidence that Nigerians’ votes will count in the next general election.
The unveiling took place on Monday during the inauguration of the APM presidential campaign office in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Makinde rejected a return to fuel subsidy.
He, however, advocated domestic crude pricing for Nigerian refineries as an alternative to make petrol more affordable.
On May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu, in his inauguration speech, announced the removal of petrol subsidy.
The policy led to higher prices of goods and services, although the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government has continued to argue that it has delivered substantial economic benefits.
Ahead of the 2027 election, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, who had pledged during the 2023 campaign to scrap the subsidy if elected, now promised to restore it if elected president to ease the impact of its removal on Nigerians.
Atiku’s pledge has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians.
Speaking on Monday, Makinde rejected Atiku’s proposal and offered an alternative to the way Tinubu was managing the post-subsidy era, questioning why crude supplied to Nigerian refineries should be priced as though the country did not produce crude oil.
He stressed that Nigeria’s oil must provide tangible and measurable benefits to Nigerians.
Makinde called for complete transparency across the petroleum value chain — from production and domestic crude allocation to refining, transportation, distribution, taxes, and retail margins.
He said: “I have spoken about the petrol pricing framework. Some people have asked whether I am suggesting that we bring back the old fuel subsidy. That is not my position. Let me explain my position very simply with this example.
“If a community grows food, the people of that community should not have to buy that food as though it travelled halfway around the world before reaching them. So, why should crude oil supplied to Nigerian refineries be priced as though Nigeria does not produce crude oil?”
Emphasising that Nigerians must benefit directly from their crude resources, Makinde said Nigerians deserved to know what they were paying for, who benefited from the payments and where inefficiencies were driving up the final price, stressing that this was what the Reset Nigeria agenda was all about.
The APM presidential candidate continued, “Nigerians must be able to see how the final price is reached. We need complete transparency across the petroleum value chain—from production and domestic crude allocation to refining, transportation, distribution, taxes and retail margins.
“That benefit should be built into the system from the beginning, through the price at which crude oil is supplied for domestic refining — not through an opaque intervention at the petrol pump after all the costs, inefficiencies and distortions have been added.”
He explained that the Reset Nigeria agenda was fundamentally about ending opaque systems and restoring public trust: “Government must show its workings. Nigerians must be able to see how decisions are made and how national resources are managed.”
Inviting Nigerians to join the Reset Nigeria movement, Makinde said: “Reset Nigeria cannot be a conversation among politicians alone. It must become a conversation in our homes, markets, schools, offices, farms, factories and communities.
“We want to hear from the trader who struggles whenever transport costs rise. We want to hear from the farmer who cannot afford to move produce to the market. We want to hear from the business owner whose costs rise every time the price of fuel changes.
“We want to hear from the young Nigerian who is working hard but can no longer see a clear path to a better life. This office belongs to that conversation. Its doors are open to Nigerians who believe that our country can work better than it does today. So, I invite you: join the Reset Nigeria conversation.”
He said he was aware that some people had already dismissed his presidential campaign as insignificant, but noted that he had faced similar doubts when he first sought to govern Oyo State.
Makinde recalled that many had doubted his chances against established political forces, only for the people of Oyo State to prove them wrong.
He said those dismissing his campaign were, in effect, disregarding the aspirations of millions of Nigerians, including traders, youths, farmers, workers and small-business owners who believed the country can be better.
“They may discount one candidate, but they cannot discount millions of Nigerians united behind a better future. Let us build a country in which government is transparent, leadership is accountable, and Nigeria’s resources work for the Nigerian people,” he said.
In his remarks, Obi called on political leaders and Nigerians at large to unite in the collective effort to rescue the country from poverty, hunger and insecurity.
The former Anambra State governor said Makinde was qualified to contest for the presidency, stressing that whoever emerges victorious in a credible election should be supported by all Nigerians to build a better country.
He stated, “What we are doing today is to show you that, for us, we don’t have desperation. We want the people of Nigeria to make their choice. Whoever they choose, all of us will come together to build a new Nigeria.
“We can’t all continue the way we are going today. Our people are hungry. Our people are poor. Our people are insecure. Whoever wins, genuinely, from a free, fair and credible election, we all want to work together to save this country from collapse.
“We declare here the social guarantee to assure you that we are changing the politics. We don’t want politics of quarrel, politics of disagreement. Let our quarrel be to feed our people. Let our quarrel be to pull our people out of poverty. We want a Nigeria where a child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody.
“That’s what we want. And all of us will work as a family. And I assure you that we remain united in our rescue for our dear country, Nigeria.”
The APM national leader and Bauchi State governor, Mohammed, warned President Bola Tinubu and other political opponents not to take Makinde for granted.
He stated, “This is to show you that we mean business. Whoever disregards or takes us for granted is doing so at his own peril.
“We are here to receive Nigeria, and now to bring you one of the best human capital Nigeria has ever produced at the sub-national and national levels. That is Engineer Seyi Makinde. I just want Nigerians to understand, especially the other candidates, and they will see the wonders of the world.
“He has done well for his people in Oyo State. This is the mobiliser, the manager of resources, an engineer par excellence, somebody who used little resources and did so much; he brought urban renewal to a level that nobody has ever done it.
“Even the rural areas are not neglected. With the huge population that he has and little resources, you have seen what he has done.
“So, I am not surprised that he single-handedly provided this office. He has been in the oil and gas sector, he has been in the private sector, and he has seen it all, with a remarkable résumé that is required to lead this country. A fair knowledge of the country, with humility and respect, and deep knowledge of governance.
“And that is why you can see that the Allied Peoples Movement is the only party that will give you hope. We have fewer problems. There is no party without problems, but among all the political parties in Nigeria, even the APC, the APM is the least troubled. This is because there is loyalty, the party is supreme, there is a duly constituted authority, and there is harmony.”
Mohammed said the APM remained committed to providing a new lease of life through strategic leadership, prudent resource management and accountability.
He continued, “And I think Nigerians would be pleasantly surprised by what my brother, whom I know very well and in whom I am well pleased, will do for Nigeria within a very short time to reset the country. He is the candidate.
“I want to tell Nigerians that this is an opportunity to build a new Nigeria, where everybody, man or woman, young or old, will have the opportunity to actualise his or her aspirations.”
Former Niger State Governor and Secretary to the Tanimu Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, called for greater cooperation among opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 election, saying Nigeria needed to be reset and put on the path of progress.
He said insecurity had claimed lives and displaced many Nigerians, stressing that development, education and agriculture could not thrive without security.
He stated, “We had the first opposition meeting in Ibadan. Now, we have had the second meeting in Abuja. There is a need for cooperation among all the opposition leaders and candidates.
“There is a need to reset Nigeria and make it move forward. It is the responsibility of the government to provide security and improve the welfare of the people. We have lost so many lives, and many people have been displaced due to insecurity.
“With insecurity, there can be no development, education or agriculture. And that is why we are seeing Peter Obi and Makinde ensure that we unite and work together in all necessary aspects so that there will be a candidate. When the time comes, we shall direct the people towards that candidate.”
National Chairman of the APM, Yusuf Dantalle, said the party’s campaign for the 2027 general election marked the beginning of its mission to “reset Nigeria,” promising an issue-based campaign focused on competence, solutions and good governance.
Dantalle said the APM offered Nigerians an alternative anchored on integrity, sacrifice and service, while expressing confidence in the party’s chances in the election.
He described the Makinde/Lawal Daura ticket as a source of hope for Nigerians seeking improved governance, economic prosperity and national security, saying Makinde would provide compassionate and inclusive leadership as President.
The APM chairman also said insecurity would be tackled head-on under a Makinde/Daura administration, adding that Nigerians should be able to conduct their legitimate activities without fear of kidnapping or terrorism.
He urged Nigerians to support all APM candidates in the 2027 election.
He added: “With a competent vice-presidential candidate, Alhaji Lawal Daura, who once headed a critical security service in the country, insecurity will be tackled head-on.”
Dantalle pledged that the APM would run an issue-based campaign focused on practical solutions, competence, and the future of the country, rather than politics of bitterness, division, and hatred.
“This is our chance to build a strong, stable, united, prosperous, inclusive and just democratic society,” he said.
The event was attended by Daura, who is the vice-presidential candidate of APM; former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; national and state legislators; members of the APM BoT; members of the APM National Working Committee; and party faithful, among other dignitaries.
Source: punchng.com
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