Former lawmakers endorse President Tinubu for second term at Southern Summit
Former legislators from Nigeria’s southern region have officially endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term. The endorsement was made in a communiqué issued at the end of the Southern Summit of Former Legislators, held on Saturday at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The summit, convened by the Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, brought together former lawmakers to review national progress and express support for the current administration. The attendees commended Tinubu’s reforms over the past two years, which they said have re-engineered the economy, strengthened the naira, and laid a foundation for socio-economic recovery.
Gbajabiamila highlighted key economic achievements of the Tinubu administration, including the signing of tax reforms into law. Citing the World Bank Development Update, he noted that Nigeria’s economy grew by 4.6% in the last quarter of 2024, with annual growth reaching 3.4%—the fastest pace in a decade. He also revealed that federal revenues nearly doubled from ₦16.8 trillion in 2023 to ₦31.9 trillion in 2024, while the fiscal deficit dropped from 5.4% to 3% of GDP.
He further praised the creation of development commissions across all six geopolitical zones, saying they are designed to channel more federal resources into infrastructure and human capital development. He called on Nigerians at home and abroad to support the administration’s vision of nation building, emphasizing that national progress requires collective effort beyond government.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, who hosted the event, stressed that nation building is a shared responsibility that transcends politics, religion, and ethnicity. He emphasized that unity does not mean uniformity but rather a celebration of Nigeria’s diversity under the principles of justice and equity.
Former Senate President Senator Ken Nnamani, who chaired the summit, called on former legislators to continue offering solutions to national challenges. Similarly, former Speaker Yakubu Dogara urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the Tinubu administration, warning that many critics in the political space are motivated more by vengeance than patriotism.
Former Speaker Patricia Etteh called for greater cohesion, dialogue, and a shared sense of purpose in achieving national development. She emphasized that peace and unity are essential for democratic progress, especially in a diverse nation like Nigeria.
Hon. Raphael Igbokwe, National Coordinator of the summit, concluded by affirming the role of the gathering in strengthening democratic governance. He encouraged greater collaboration between sub-national governments and the federal administration to move Nigeria forward.
