Oyo State Governor and Presidential Candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), Engr. Seyi Makinde, has outlined a four-pillar agenda for resetting Nigeria, identifying the economy, security, education and socio-political reforms as critical areas requiring urgent national attention.
Makinde disclosed this during a special interview on Jay FM 101.9 Jos’ State of the Nation programme on Sunday, November 8, 2026, where he argued that Nigeria needs a fundamental reset rather than superficial reforms to address its persistent challenges.
Speaking on the economy, the governor stressed that economic growth must translate into improved living conditions for ordinary Nigerians, insisting that government policies should be measured by their impact on households rather than macroeconomic statistics alone.
He identified entrepreneurship, skills development, knowledge acquisition and intensive production as essential drivers of economic prosperity, particularly in creating opportunities for young people and lifting citizens out of poverty.
Makinde also recalled his experience with free education in Oyo State, explaining that he received free secondary and university education between 1982 and 1990, including textbooks and other learning materials at the secondary school level.
He said his experience informed his belief that government must invest substantially in education to give younger generations a clear pathway to a better future.
On security, the APM presidential candidate reiterated his support for the establishment of state police, describing it as a necessary step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
He recalled that he was among the governors who advocated state policing during the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, which eventually led to the establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun, as an interim security arrangement in the South-West.
According to him, states should be allowed to establish their own police structures when they are ready, provided adequate safeguards are introduced to prevent possible abuse by political office holders.
He maintained that decentralising policing would improve intelligence gathering and enable states to respond more effectively to security threats within their territories.
On education, Makinde called for stronger collaboration between federal and state governments, warning that inadequate access to education could worsen insecurity, banditry, kidnapping, insurgency and other social problems.
He cited the resolution of the ownership crisis involving Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) between Oyo and Osun States as an example of how sincerity of purpose and cooperation could address longstanding educational challenges.
The governor also advocated accountability in governance, urging leaders to be transparent about the country’s challenges rather than conceal the realities facing Nigerians.
Addressing the country’s socio-political climate, Makinde called for reforms that would encourage broader political participation, strengthen multiparty democracy and ensure that elected leaders enjoy wider popular support.
He argued that Nigeria’s political system should be structured to promote consensus and national inclusion rather than a winner-takes-all arrangement.
Referencing the 2023 presidential election, he claimed that 67 per cent of voters rejected the APC, arguing that the country’s democratic structure should provide room for broader representation and cooperation among political parties.
He further proposed a transitional government of national unity as part of efforts to address the country’s political challenges, adding that he had excluded himself from benefiting from any such arrangement.
Makinde, who described his entry into politics as a decision driven by concern for Nigeria’s future, said the country’s young population must be given opportunities to succeed, warning that denying them a clear future could create greater social instability.
He also called on Plateau residents to participate in the political engagement and activities of the APM, while stressing that meaningful conversations with stakeholders were more important than political rallies alone.