PVM Attacks Makinde Over Poverty, Questions His Leadership Record
Makinde Has No Solution to Nigeria’s Poverty Crisis, Should Return to His Business Empire After Tenure — PVM President
The President of Progressives Vision Movement (PVM), Prince Gbadegeshin Ademola, has launched a blistering attack on Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over his recent assertion that poverty, rather than religion, constitutes Nigeria’s greatest challenge, accusing the governor of making political statements without demonstrating convincing solutions to the economic difficulties confronting residents of his own state.
Ademola described Makinde’s comments as an attempt to remain politically relevant ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that Nigerians deserve practical solutions to poverty rather than what he characterised as publicity-driven pronouncements and unfulfilled campaign promises.
The PVM President challenged the governor to publicly present verifiable evidence of the policies, programmes and initiatives his administration has implemented to reduce poverty in Oyo State since assuming office in 2019. He argued that a governor seeking to contribute to national conversations on poverty reduction must first demonstrate measurable achievements within his own jurisdiction.
“Governor Makinde should tell Nigerians what he has done to eradicate poverty in Oyo State. How many people have been lifted out of poverty under his administration? How many sustainable jobs have been created? What specific economic policies has he implemented to improve the living standards of ordinary citizens? Nigerians need answers backed by facts, not political speeches,” Ademola challenged.
He further questioned what he described as Makinde’s publicly expressed opposition to local government autonomy, arguing that such a position contradicts the governor’s professed concern about poverty and grassroots development. According to Ademola, genuine economic empowerment cannot be achieved while local government administrations lack the independence required to respond effectively to the needs of their communities.
The PVM leader maintained that the 33 local government areas of Oyo State should serve as important centres of economic development, agricultural transformation, rural infrastructure delivery and employment creation. He challenged Makinde to explain how grassroots communities could fully enjoy the dividends of democracy without stronger and more accountable local government institutions.
Ademola also accused the governor of placing political visibility above what he considered the more urgent responsibility of addressing developmental challenges in Oyo State. He argued that public officeholders should be judged by their achievements, transparency and commitment to democratic principles rather than the frequency of their appearances in national political debates.
The PVM President demanded that Makinde publish a comprehensive account of his administration’s poverty alleviation programmes, including their budgets, beneficiaries, implementation records and measurable results. He maintained that such disclosure would enable the public to independently determine whether the governor’s economic policies have delivered meaningful improvements.
He further advised Makinde to concentrate on fulfilling his outstanding campaign promises before the expiration of his tenure in 2027, alleging that his growing involvement in national political discussions was designed to strengthen his political profile rather than address the immediate concerns of Oyo State residents.
“Governor Makinde is an accomplished businessman with a business empire. If he has nothing more to offer in public service, he should peacefully complete his tenure and return to his business interests. Nigeria needs leaders with credible development blueprints, not politicians who use the suffering of ordinary citizens as an instrument for political relevance,” Ademola stated.
He insisted that the battle against poverty requires deliberate investments in agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure, industrial development and youth employment, adding that political leaders must demonstrate how their policies translate into improved household incomes and sustainable economic opportunities.
Ademola concluded that the Progressives Vision Movement would continue to demand transparency, local government autonomy and measurable governance outcomes from political officeholders, stressing that Nigerians should scrutinise the records of politicians seeking greater national influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
The criticisms reflect the position of the PVM President and do not independently establish the governor’s motives or the effectiveness of his administration’s poverty reduction policies. Makinde’s response to the allegations was not available at the time of this report.
