Forget reforms! Makinde wants Nigeria rebooted

Makinde made the call on Sunday during an interview on Jay FM in Jos, Plateau State, ahead of the launch of his party’s 2027 presidential campaign in the city.

He said economic recovery should be judged by improvements in ordinary Nigerians’ lives rather than official figures on inflation, foreign reserves and other economic indicators.

According to him, the priority should be ensuring that citizens can afford food and meet their basic needs.

The governor also advocated increased investment in education, vocational training, entrepreneurship and industrial production to create jobs for Nigeria’s growing youth population.

On security, Makinde renewed his support for state police, promising to allow willing states to establish their own forces under appropriate safeguards if elected president.

He cited the South-West’s Amotekun security outfit as evidence that decentralised policing could work alongside federal security agencies. He acknowledged concerns that governors might abuse state police to target political opponents but argued that adequate checks could prevent such misuse.

Makinde, who said he first proposed state police to the late President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, maintained that individual states should be allowed to adopt the arrangement when they are ready.

He also linked rising insecurity to unemployment and the lack of opportunities for young Nigerians, warning that neglecting the needs of the country’s youthful population could fuel further instability.

Recalling his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Makinde defended his decision not to impose a total lockdown in Oyo State, saying he was concerned that many residents depended on daily earnings to survive.

He argued that government policies must reflect the realities of ordinary people rather than simply follow national directives.

On education, the governor praised the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s free education policy, describing it as a visionary initiative that transformed opportunities for ordinary families.

He also promised greater transparency and accountability in government, saying Nigerians must first be told the truth about the country’s economic situation before meaningful changes could be implemented.