……. Hail President’s economic reforms, ‘purposeful leadership’
… Say new nation in the making
The Southern Summit of Former Legislators, comprising the likes of ex-Senate President Ken Nnamani and ex-House of Representatives Speaker Patricia Etteh, on Saturday adopted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its sole candidate for the 2027 election.
The former legislators, who were joined at a summit in Abeokuta by another ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said their decision was informed by the various reforms of President Tinubu, which have, in the last two years, re-engineered the economy, strengthened the currency and set the nation on the path of socio-economic recovery.
They stressed the need for state governments to key into the reforms and support the President in his efforts to birth a new nation.
The former lawmakers, in a communiqué issued at the end of the summit, said the south deserved to complete its eight-year tenure in the leadership of the country.
They particularly hailed the “innovative reforms of government, which include, among others, the establishment of regional development commissions, local government autonomy, student loans scheme and deregulation of the electricity sector, and called for greater collaboration of state governments, and support of citizens alike to be able to harvest the great potentials of these reforms.”
They former lawmakers added: “That as a body, we will always align ourselves to those things that will promote the unity, peace and prosperity of our dear country, Nigeria.
“We commend the patriotic courage of our colleagues of the Northern Caucus in calling for the South to complete their tenure of the leadership of the country.
“We affirm that it is the turn of the South to complete its tenure.
“We posit that it is in the best interest of the South and the nation that the incumbent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, completes the tenure of the South.
“Accordingly, we adopt him as the sole candidate of the South.
“We call on the South to support the North in 2031 to take up their tenure for the leadership of our dear country.
“We call on all Nigerians to pursue this course to promote national unity and firm the foundation of nation building.”
The communique was signed by Hon. Adeyemi Oluwole; Chairman, Southern Caucus and Hon. Israel Sunny Goli, Secretary South.
At the summit’s formal opening, the Chief of Staff to the President and convener of the summit, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, noted that with the signing into law of the tax reforms, President Tinubu has ushered in a new era of economic justice built on fairness, accountability, and national purpose.
The Chief of Staff, while quoting the World Bank Development Update, said Nigeria’s economy expanded by 4.6 per cent in the final quarter of 2024, pushing annual growth to 3.4 per cent; the fastest pace in a decade.
He further added that the country’s fiscal deficit narrowed from 5.4 per cent of gross domestic product in 2023 to 3 per cent in 2024, driving the federation revenues from N16.8 trillion in 2023 to an estimated N31.9 trillion in 2024.
The former House of Representatives Speaker noted the importance of unity in diversity, adding that without national unity, there could be no national development and that a nation without peace cannot experience progress.
His words:”The country can draw strength and inspiration from culture, music, arts and traditions.
“Nation building is a joint task that goes beyond building roads, bridges, schools and hospitals; it is about forging a sense of common identity and purpose among the citizens.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ensured purposeful leadership through the establishment of development commissions across the six geo-political regions of the country.
“The development commissions will no doubt help channel more federal resources to develop and implement infrastructure and human capital development across the country.
“Nation building is not only the work of the government but also for citizens, both at home and in the diaspora, who have a stake in the Nigerian project to join hands with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to build a nation every citizen will be proud of.”
Also speaking, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun noted that nation building is not the sole responsibility of one region, one party or one institution, but a shared duty that transcends tribal, religious, political and economic divides.
Abiodun added that unity does not mean uniformity, but a celebration of diversity under the framework of justice, equity and respect.
While acknowledging the former legislators as embodiments and essence of representative democracy, Governor Abiodun said that apart from performing legislative duties, they also perform oversight functions and representation through which the voice of the people at the grassroots is brought to the government at the centre.
“You must be committed to a united, secure, and economically vibrant region. You must continue to support policies and programmes that promote inclusive governance, human capital development and inter-regional cooperation,” he said.
Chairman of the occasion, Sen. Ken Nnamani, in his opening remarks, stressed the need for former legislators to come together to deliberate on the challenges confronting the nation and proffer workable solutions to the government.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who would be remembered for campaigning against Tinubu in 2023 over same faith ticket and even left the APC in protest, urged Nigerians not to allow pretenders in the political space to cause them to lose faith in the Tinubu administration.
He said the agitations of the so-called pretenders do not hinge on patriotism, but more about vengeance and power.
While affirming that the structure of the pretenders was built on mendacity, fury and spectacle, Dogara noted that the country has begun to experience economic recovery.
Speaking in the same vein, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, called for cohesion, dialogue and shared purpose to navigate the journey of sustainable development, adding that unity remains an ingredient for peace and democratic progress.
The National Coordinator of the Summit, Hon. Raphael Igbokwe, assured that the meeting would serve as a platform for finding solutions to the nation’s problems, urging the sub-nations to collaborate with the federal government in moving the nation forward.
Others who have already endorsed Tinubu for a second term in office include APC governors and leaders across the six geo-political zones.
