Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate Seyi Makinde criticised President Bola Tinubu’s “Emi Lokan” slogan during an APM town‑hall meeting in Akure, Ondo State, on Thursday, urging Nigerians to decide the next president collectively ahead of the 2027 general election.
Makinde said no individual or region should treat the presidency as an entitlement, warning against what he described as “turn‑by‑turn nepotism.” He recalled the 1999 election, when voters in the South‑West largely backed Olu Falae while the rest of the country supported Olusegun Obasanjo, and asked, “How can someone say, ‘Emi Lokan’, in a country like Nigeria?”
“So, this is not an issue that only the South‑West can resolve; it is an issue we must address collectively as Nigerians,” Makinde said.
He warned that a “turn‑by‑turn” approach could undermine development, leaving projects unfinished and preventing the country from getting value for public resources. “You will not finish those projects, and when it becomes someone else’s turn, they will do the same thing,” he added.
Makinde presented his Reset Nigeria agenda, which he said would build infrastructure that supports economic growth and responds to the needs of young people and women. “Once we fix our economy, no zone will be left behind, and no demographic group will be left behind,” he said.
The governor’s remarks come as the APM prepares for the 2027 election, with Makinde positioning himself as a candidate who prioritises national unity over regional entitlement.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
