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2027: Makinde Dares Political Godfathers, Says God, Nigerians Will Give Him Presidency
Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has expressed confidence in winning the 2027 presidential election, declaring that his ambition is backed by God and Nigerians rather than political godfathers.
Makinde made the declaration on Sunday during a church service at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Jos, Plateau State, where he presented his vision for Nigeria ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
The governor, according to a statement issued by his Director of Strategic Communications, Richard Ihediwa, said his ambition was driven by the need to reposition Nigeria through effective leadership and tackle the country’s challenges in security, the economy, education and governance.
Recalling his journey to becoming Oyo State governor in 2019, Makinde said he had faced similar doubts over his lack of political godfathers but eventually emerged victorious.
He said his confidence in the 2027 race was rooted in his faith in God and the support of Nigerians.
“When I said in Oyo State in 2018 that I would like to be governor, somebody asked me, ‘Governor of which Rotary District?’
“They asked, ‘With no godfather; nobody in politics who can stand in for you?’ I responded by saying, ‘Well, I have God the Father.’ And I became the Governor of Oyo State.
“This time around, we also have God the Father, and God will be merciful unto Nigeria, and He will show us mercy in this country,” he said.
Makinde said his proposed Reset Nigeria Agenda was designed to address the country’s challenges through four major pillars: security, the economy, education and the socio-political system.
He explained that his administration in Oyo State had relied on deliberate planning, transparency and accountability, with development road maps guiding his two terms between 2019 and 2027.
Presenting his Reset Nigeria Manifesto to the church leadership, the governor challenged Nigerians to hold him accountable for his campaign promises.
“I want Nigerians to be able to hold me accountable, not just through promises but through documented commitments. Everything is written down in black and white, and I am prepared to be held accountable for everything contained in this document,” he said.
The APM candidate urged Nigerians, particularly Christians, to actively participate in the political process and prepare to determine the country’s leadership in 2027.
“Please, get ready and participate. History is about to happen again,” he added.
The President of COCIN, Rev. Dr Amos Mohzo, urged Makinde to prioritise Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and economic hardship if elected, while praying for his success in the presidential contest.
Mohzo also encouraged him to sustain his political ambition, expressing hope that God’s will would prevail.
Speaking during a live political programme on Jay FM in Jos ahead of the party’s Plateau State rally, Makinde argued that Nigeria needed a complete reset rather than conventional reforms to overcome its challenges.
He identified the economy as his administration’s foremost priority, insisting that economic performance should be measured by its impact on ordinary Nigerians rather than government statistics.
According to him, improvements in foreign reserves and inflation figures would mean little if citizens continued to struggle to afford basic necessities.
“The economy must work for everybody. It is not about taking numbers out and saying external reserves have grown or quoting what the World Bank said about inflationary trends.
“What is the ordinary man on the street feeling? Are they able to feed themselves? If you cannot feel the impact of an improving economy at the street level, then the economy is not getting better,” he said.
He called for increased investment in skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, education and production, stressing the need to create an enabling environment for businesses and generate employment for Nigeria’s growing youth population.
On security, the governor promised to decentralise the country’s security architecture through the establishment of state police if elected president.
He maintained that state governments should be allowed to establish their own police structures where they were prepared to do so, provided adequate safeguards were introduced to prevent abuse.
Makinde recalled that he had advocated state police shortly after assuming office in 2019, when he and other South-West governors approached the late President Muhammadu Buhari over the proposal.
He said the governors subsequently established the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, as an alternative security arrangement.
“Amotekun was a midway between having full-fledged state police and having nothing,” he said.
The governor acknowledged concerns that state police could be used by governors to intimidate citizens and political opponents but argued that such risks could be addressed through appropriate safeguards.
He also linked insecurity to unemployment and the absence of economic opportunities for young Nigerians, warning that neglecting the younger generation could trigger greater conflicts.
“Some of these young people are now getting involved in crime and criminality because we have not given them a path to the future.
“If you do not give opportunities to the coming generation, it is a recipe for bigger conflicts ahead of us,” he said.
Makinde also defended his decision not to impose a total lockdown in Oyo State during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
He said he rejected the directive because many residents depended on their daily earnings to feed themselves and their families.
According to him, some Nigerians would rather risk contracting COVID-19 than remain indoors without food.
He explained that his decision was based on scientific evidence, data and the socio-economic realities of the state, adding that the Federal Government eventually allowed states to determine whether lockdowns were necessary.
The governor said the experience reinforced his belief that states should have greater authority to address challenges based on their individual circumstances, including security.
On education, Makinde reaffirmed his commitment to the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s philosophy of free education, describing it as a model worth sustaining.
He also promised to strengthen higher education institutions and transform them into centres of research and innovation.
The governor said transparency and accountability would be central to his proposed national leadership, insisting that Nigerians must first be told the true state of the country before meaningful solutions could be implemented.
Makinde, who flagged off his presidential campaign in Bauchi State on Saturday, is scheduled to lead the APM campaign rally in Plateau State on Monday at Rayfield Park, Jos.
