The 2025 summit of former lawmakers from Nigeria’s southern region concluded with a formal endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, signalling growing political backing for his administration ahead of the next election cycle.
In a communique at the end of the summit held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the ex-lawmakers affirmed that it was the turn of the South to complete its tenure.
The communique was signed by the chairman of the drafting committee, Hon. R. Osagie; chairman of the former legislators’ Southern Caucus, Hon. Adeyemi Oluwole and the Secretary, Hon. Israel Sunny Goli.
According to them, it is in the best interest of the South and Nigeria 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,” the communique said.
In a show of solidarity, the Forum of Former Northern Legislators passed a vote of confidence on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, endorsing his re-election for a second term in 2027.
Members of the Northern Legislators Forum were part of the attendees at the Southern Summit in Abeokuta.
The Forum, led by Hon. Fai Ahmed Chachangi and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Yakubu Dogara, premised its endorsement of Tinubu on the belief that such would drive the much-desired progress and unity for Nigeria.
It, however, urged the president to step up efforts in the fight against insecurity, particularly in Zamfara, Niger, Plateau, and Borno States.
The Summit, with the theme “National Unity: Bedrock of Nation Building”, brought together prominent political figures, including the Chief of Staff to the President and former speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon.. Femi Gbajabiamila, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, and former speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, among several others.
The summit also examined issues about restructuring, security, and economic revival while resolving to remain a formidable advisory body committed to Nigeria’s progress.
The forum, under the chairmanship of former Senate President Senator Ken Nnamani, stressed the need to close gaps between past and present legislators to ensure continuity, mentorship, and stronger oversight functions.
It commended the innovative reforms of the federal government, declaring that they would always align themselves with initiatives that seek to promote the unity, peace and prosperity of Nigeria.
The ex-legislators listed those initiatives to include, among others, the establishment of Regional Development Commissions, Local Government Autonomy, Student Loans Scheme and Deregulation of the Electricity Sector.
They called for greater collaboration of state governments and support of citizens alike to be able to harvest the great potential of these reforms.
Speakers at the summit emphasised unity and stronger collaboration between past and present lawmakers to deepen Nigeria’s democracy.
The convener, Rt. Hon Gbajabiamila emphasised that the gathering was not a partisan affair but a platform for fostering unity, bridging regional divides and supporting the administration’s efforts in delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
Gbajabiamila said the clarity of President Tinubu’s vision formed the basis for which his administration had set out from day one to tackle the most difficult reforms.
He said that the “will to execute buttons,” which former leaders who have ruled before President Tinubu refused to activate, were just the reform initiatives the president is bringing to bear on the nation.
“Today, the Federal Government of Nigeria is no longer paying inflated subsidy claims that benefit only a tiny minority of our citizens. Every Nigerian child today is guaranteed a tertiary education courtesy of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
“With the signing into law of the tax reforms, President Bola Tinubu has ushered in a new era of economic justice, built on fairness, accountability, and national purpose.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is anchored on the unassailable belief that while it is not in our power to change the past, it is our obligation to do the hard work today so that our tomorrow can be better than all our yesteryears,” he said.
Gbajabiamila also charged Nigerians to be united and rise with a renewed determination “to build a Nigeria where unity is a lived reality, where our diversity is our greatest strength, and where generations yet unborn will be proud to travel the ends of the earth and declare with confidence, like the Romans of old, that ‘I am a Nigerian.”
Participants lauded Ogun State for hosting the event, describing it as a milestone in building bridges of understanding among the nation’s diverse political stakeholders.
In his opening address, the National Coordinator of the National Forum of Former Legislators, Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe, commended the President Tinubu-led Federal Government’s innovative reforms.
According to Igbokwe, these reforms have positively impacted the potential of driving even development in all regions of the country and bringing development to the grassroots.
Igbokwe, however, called for greater co-operation from state governments across the country to complement those federal government actions towards ensuring that those innovative reforms are sustained.
He expressed optimism that the summit will afford the Nigerian legislators the needed opportunity to rise and evolve an outcome that further unites the citizens more and promotes the peace, unity and prosperity of Nigeria.
Earlier in their goodwill remarks, the trio of Senators: Nnamani; former Speakers of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and Patricia Olubunmi Etteh; applauded President Tinubu for his steadfast leadership, commitment to national development, and dedication to inclusive governance in Nigeria.