Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has presented his economic blueprint for Nigeria, advocating a shift towards wealth creation and warning against political manoeuvres that threaten the survival of opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.

Makinde spoke on Thursday at the South-West town hall meeting of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) in Akure, Ondo State, where he outlined his RESET agenda and called for a departure from an economy heavily dependent on federal allocations, according to Vanguard.

On revenue generation, the governor argued that governments should concentrate on creating conditions for businesses and individuals to prosper before seeking to increase tax revenue. He said he had made a similar case at a meeting of the National Economic Council, urging its members to prioritise productivity.

“Let the people be productive, when they are productive, they become prosperous. When they are prosperous, tax prosperity, don’t tax poverty,” he said.

Makinde said a more productive economy would provide governments with additional sources of revenue and create opportunities for Nigerians to escape poverty, rather than relying primarily on monthly federal allocations.

Turning to the political climate, the governor urged the Federal Government, led by the All Progressives Congress (APC), to allow opposition parties to operate without interference. He alleged that tactics used to provoke crises within rival parties were inconsistent with the principles of a multi-party democracy.

Makinde pointed to the importance of federalism and political pluralism, insisting that Nigeria could not sustain a genuine democratic system if opposition parties were prevented from functioning freely.

“There is no democracy if it is a one-party system,” he said.