APM candidate Makinde: “I’m sick of being a ‘chief security officer’ without teeth.”
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde (middle); receiving certificate of return and Flag as Allied People’s Movement (APM), Presidential Candidate from the party National Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle (left) while the Organizing Secretary, Hon Bashiru Bala looks on, during the APM primary election collation/unveiling ceremony, held at Emeritus Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, Ibadan. PHOTO: Oyo Gov’s Media
Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, expressed his dissatisfaction with Nigeria’s current security framework on Saturday, calling his position as chief security officer a “painful burden” due to his lack of constitutional authority over security agencies.
Following his confirmation as the Allied People’s Movement’s (APM) consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, Makinde made the statement in his acceptance speech. Party chairmen from all 36 states of the federation attended the event, which took place at professor Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, University College Hospital, Ibadan.
Makinde used the platform to deliver a harsh critique of the centralized security system, in contrast to many political speeches that center on campaign promises. He cited the continued kidnapping of innocent citizens and schoolchildren by terrorists as proof that the current strategy was ineffective.
Makinde stated, “As governor of Oyo State, I bear the agonizing burden of being referred to as chief security officer, yet lacking constitutional control over the security agencies required to fully confront these threats.”
He maintained that it was unworkable for the Constitution to impose accountability on a governor while denying them the necessary power.
No Governor should be placed in a situation where responsibility is placed on his shoulders, but the necessary authority is withheld,” he stated.
The governor promised that, if elected President in 2027, his first major reform would be to dismantle the bottlenecks in national security. He vowed to prioritise decentralisation so that states would no longer be left helpless in moments of crisis.
“The safety of Nigerians will not be treated as a political talking point. It will be a national duty,” Makinde added.
Beyond security, the governor also took aim at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), expressing a vision of a future in which the oil company becomes leaner and more commercially driven. He promised a reset of the economy through honest and practical reforms, including fair pricing templates for petroleum products that would protect Nigerians from arbitrary costs.
Earlier, the National Chairman of APM, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, described Makinde’s emergence as the beginning of a new chapter in Nigeria’s political history, stating that power must be returned to the people.
The event was attended by a former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Jatau; and the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, among other dignitaries.
