Former President of the Nigerian Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmad Lawan, has issued a passionate appeal to the opposition, urging them to set aside partisan interests and extend their support to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Senator Lawan, who was the 14th President of the Nigerian Senate, specifically called on critics to acknowledge and give credit to the government where it is due, emphasizing that the nation’s progress should supersede party politics.
Senator Lawan made the call on Tuesday in Abuja, while receiving a delegation from the City Boy Movement, Yobe State Chapter, at the National Assembly Complex.
Drawing from his own extensive 16-year experience in the opposition, he stressed that constructive engagement and support for good policies must transcend party lines for the country to move forward.
“Even if you don’t believe in what the APC is doing, if you see us doing something for the betterment of Nigeria, please support us and give us the credit.
“Here we are at a very critical point of development as a country; when we are doing the right things, the opposition should be kind enough to support the administration,” Senator Lawan stated.
The former Senate President framed his appeal within the context of what he described as President Tinubu’s courageous and determined leadership.
He urged all Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation, to rally behind the administration’s efforts to reset the nation.
“This is one leader who has worked so hard for democracy. Today, he heads a government working in a courageous and bold way to reset the situation of Nigeria. Some of the reforms introduced are decisions that not every leader can try to implement because they can make one unpopular. But he introduced them because tomorrow will be better,” Senator Lawan said.
National Unity
While the core of his message focused on national unity and bipartisan support, Senator Lawan also highlighted specific achievements of the Tinubu administration, particularly in the security sector, an area he oversees as Committee Chairman in the Senate.
He pointed to the signing of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Bill, the re-organisation of the security architecture, and the recent approval of a substantial allowance increase for armed forces personnel as significant strides worthy of commendation.
Speaking further on the importance of education, particularly in Northern Nigeria, Senator Lawan called on privileged youths to champion the campaign for basic education. He lamented the high number of out-of-school children and stressed that no investment in education is too much.
“Our youth, especially those of you who are privileged, must increase the tempo of our campaign for our children to be in school. The insecurity will be positively affected when you invest in education. We must ensure our youth are enrolled in basic education and retained without parents spending anything,” he emphasized.
Senator Lawan also praised the developmental strides of Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, particularly his declaration of a state of emergency on education and the establishment of educational institutions.
He called for continued unity among stakeholders in the state.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Muhammad Yakubu Hassan, briefed the former Senate President on the movement’s structure, which includes a State Advisory Council comprising technocrats, businessmen, and political office holders.
He outlined plans for grassroots mobilisation, empowerment initiatives, and town hall meetings aimed at bringing governance closer to the people.
Hassan highlighted upcoming programs under the City Boy Movement, including the “Education for All” and “Health for All” initiatives, as well as community-driven projects designed to address basic needs at the ward level.
In his response, Senator Lawan welcomed the delegation and assured them of his support.
He confirmed his readiness to work with the movement, noting that he is already a patron of the Tinubu House-to-House Network and remains devoted to the cause of mobilising support for the administration’s success.