Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has dismissed as false claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that he received ₦50 billion from President Bola Tinubu to support his administration.
Makinde made the rebuttal on Monday at the North-West Consultative Meeting of the African Peoples Movement (APM) in Katsina, where he joined the party’s presidential candidate, Lawal Daura, to present the “Reset Nigeria” agenda.
Addressing party leaders, supporters and delegates, Makinde said Wike’s allegation was untrue.
“The President did not give ₦50 billion to me. That claim is false,” he declared.
The Oyo governor also acknowledged Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda for facilitating logistics for the meeting despite being on an official trip to the United States, and thanked former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai for his support.
Makinde said the coalition’s campaign would focus on four pillars: resetting the economy, education, security and Nigeria’s socio-political system.
On the economy, he argued that Nigeria must move beyond dependence on natural resources by investing in entrepreneurship, skills and round-the-clock productivity.
He pledged to use credible data to address the out-of-school children crisis, saying government must first know the true number of affected children before designing solutions.
Speaking on security, Makinde referenced the recent deaths of young Nigerians in a mining-related tragedy in Niger State, saying many were driven into illegal mining by hardship.
He called for the devolution of mining administration to state governments while leaving federal authorities with oversight responsibilities.
Makinde also promised strict adherence to the Constitution if elected, saying presidential powers should always be formally transferred to the Vice President whenever the President proceeds on vacation or is unable to discharge official duties.
He urged the Federal Government to transfer mining administration from the Exclusive Legislative List to the states, with the federal government retaining regulatory oversight.
The presidential hopeful further promised to strengthen constitutional governance, criticizing the President’s decision to remain on working leave without transmitting power to the Vice President.
Citing Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, Makinde said he would always hand over authority whenever he proceeds on vacation or is unable to perform presidential duties.
“As your President, I will follow the Constitution to the letter. If I am on vacation, I will transmit power to the Vice President. Record this and hold me accountable,” he said.
He said the 2027 campaign would focus on issues rather than political attacks, insisting that the election should be about the future of Nigerians.
“It won’t be APC versus APM or any other party. It will be APC versus Nigerians,” he declared
He urged Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and support what he described as an issue-based movement to build a nation that works for every citizen, regardless of tribe, religion or region.
Earlier, the Vice presidential candidate, Lawal Daura said Nigeria must move beyond dependence on natural resources by investing in skills, knowledge and round-the-clock productivity.
“Natural resources are not enough. You must have skills and knowledge, and our economy must work 24/7 if we are to compete globally,” he said.
Daura also called for a restructuring of Nigeria’s security and mining governance, citing the recent killing of 37 youths in Niger State linked to illegal mining.
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