POLITICS
Makinde Vows to Tax Wealth, Not Poverty, Unveils Four-Point Agenda
Makinde Vows to Tax Wealth, Not Poverty, Unveils Four-Point Agenda
Makinde proposes reforms in education, security, the economy, and Nigeria’s socio-political structure.
APM candidate promises tax incentives for businesses and policies to stimulate job creation.
He challenges the Federal Government to account for NLNG dividend payments allegedly due to states and local governments.
Bauchi governor Bala Mohammed endorses the Makinde-Daura ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.
October 20, () – Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has promised to reform Nigeria’s tax system, declaring that wealth rather than poverty should be taxed as part of his proposed national reset.
Makinde unveiled a four-point agenda covering education, security, the economy and Nigeria’s socio-political structure at a town hall meeting of the MakindeDaura 2027 presidential campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Tuesday.
He said Nigeria needed fundamental changes in governance to tackle poverty, insecurity, youth marginalisation and economic hardship despite the country’s abundant natural resources.
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“Let us reset Nigeria. I am a resetter. How about you? Are you a resetter? Together, we will reset Nigeria,” he told participants.
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Makinde, recalling his professional experience in the Niger Delta, said oil-producing communities continued to face poverty, environmental pollution and insecurity despite their contribution to national wealth.
On education, he said national development depended on human capital, arguing that natural resources could not guarantee prosperity without the knowledge and skills required to create wealth.
The APM candidate identified security as another priority, promising to address the underlying causes of insecurity, particularly in the Niger Delta, where he said challenges persisted despite a decline in militancy.
He also advocated economic policies that would encourage entrepreneurship, attract private investment and expand employment opportunities for Nigeria’s growing population.
“You are supposed to tax wealth. You are not supposed to tax poverty,” Makinde said, calling for tax incentives to enable businesses to expand and employ more Nigerians.
He cited his administration’s experience in Oyo State, claiming that it had increased internally generated revenue without raising taxes on residents.
The governor also called for reforms to strengthen fiscal federalism, insisting that resources paid into the Federation Account should be distributed in accordance with constitutional provisions.
He challenged the Federal Government to account for dividends paid by Nigeria LNG Limited into the Federation Account, alleging that states and local governments had not received adequate explanations about the funds due to them.
Makinde had previously claimed that nearly ₦250 billion in NLNG dividend-related funds was being withheld from each state. He urged the government to publish relevant records to clarify the amounts involved and how the funds had been managed.
On the rising cost of living, he called for transparency in petroleum product pricing, saying Nigerians with relevant expertise should be allowed to examine the pricing template and propose ways to reduce transportation costs.
The presidential candidate also accused unnamed political interests of attempting to prevent opposition parties from uniting ahead of the 2027 general election.
He urged voters in the South-South to reconsider their political choices, expressing confidence that the APM could attract support across the region.
Earlier, Bauchi State Governor and APM national leader, Senator Bala Mohammed, endorsed the Makinde-Daura ticket, urging Nigerians to support the candidates.
Mohammed said leadership recruitment should prioritise experience, vision and the ability to deliver measurable results, while calling on youths and women to support the party.
The South-South campaign coordinator, Barrister Akpadiaha Ebitu, said Nigeria needed leaders with practical plans and the determination to address its development challenges.
He stated that the town hall meeting formed part of the APM’s mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
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