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Says 2027 poll between APC and Nigerians
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Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate Seyi Makinde has expressed concern that President Bola Tinubu travelled out of the country over 21 days ago without transmitting power to Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
Makinde, while speaking at a town hall meeting organised by the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation on Tuesday in Katsina, stated that Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides for the President to transmit power to his deputy when he is going on vacation.
The APM candidate, who is also the governor of Oyo State, promised that if elected president he would always transmit power to the Vice-President whenever he would not be available.
According to him, “I have looked at the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and, of course, as a state governor, I also operate under that Constitution. Anytime I have to travel out, not for work but on vacation, for more than 21 days, I transmit power to the Deputy Governor. Why is this not happening at the national level?
“Section 145 of the Constitution provides for the President to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives when proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge the functions of office.
“If the President is unable, whether through sickness, a medical trip or incapacitation, to function, we are all human. Anything can happen to anybody at any time. If that happens, the President should also transmit power to the Vice-President.
“I promise you that, as your President, I will follow the Constitution to the letter. If I am not going to be available, if I am on vacation, I will transmit power to the Vice-President. Record this and hold me accountable.”
Makinde, while reiterating that the 2027 contest was between the people and the All Progressives Congress (APC), assured that if elected president in the 2027 general election, his administration would reset the economy, education as well as the security architecture of the country, noting that there was need for the economy of the country to function round the clock.
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He implored Nigerians to get their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) ready so as to prove to the ruling party that the country is bigger than any individual or oppressive system.
“We are determined to reset our economy. Yes, people will argue that Nigeria is rich in natural resources. But natural resources are not enough. You must have skills and knowledge, and you must also have intensive production. Our economy must work 24/7. Otherwise, if our economy shuts down at 7 or 8 o’clock in the evening, we cannot compete with economies that are running 24/7.
“We want to reset our education. We want to measure the data that we are being given. We want to know how many out-of-school children we have and how we get them back into school. We also want to reset the security architecture in Nigeria,” he stated.
The APM candidate added: “And for the election, I maintain and repeat it: it won’t be APC versus APM, or APM versus ADC, or ADC versus NDC. It will be APC versus Nigerians. Please get your PVC and show the APC that Nigeria is bigger than individuals. It is bigger than even the systems that have held us down.
“So, together, let us embark on the Reset Agenda so that we have a Nigeria that will work for everybody, irrespective of tribe, religion or which corner of Nigeria you decide to stay in.”
Furthermore, Makinde faulted claims that the Oyo State Government received N50 billion from the Federal Government for the Ladoke Akintola International Airport, Ibadan, noting that the expansion of the airport was fully funded by the state government.
Nonetheless, the Oyo governor noted that: “My attention was drawn to an interview granted yesterday by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, where he said that the President gave N50 billion to Oyo State to upgrade the Ibadan Airport to international standards.
“I want to say that claim is false. The President did not give me or Oyo State N50 billion to upgrade the Ibadan Airport. The Ibadan Airport upgrade project is being undertaken 100 per cent with the funds of Oyo State.”
