Abeokuta, Nigeria: In a bold political declaration ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Southern Forum of Former Legislators has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate from the South.
Mr Samson Osagie, the Attorney General of Edo State and a former lawmaker, stated this while reading a communique issued at the end of a summit held in Abeokuta.
The forum is the umbrella body for lawmakers who have served the nation at the state, federal and local government levels across the 17 southern states of the federation.
The programme is on the theme “National Unity: Bedrock for Nation Building.”
According to the communique, the forum hailed Tinubu for his innovative reforms, including the establishment of Regional Development Commissions, a students’ loan scheme, and the deregulation of the electricity sector.
They called for greater collaboration among state governments for a bountiful harvest.
The former legislators said that their decision to adopt Tinubu as its 2027 sole presidential candidate hinged on the need to pursue equity, unity of the country and fairness.
The group vowed to always align itself with initiatives that promote national unity, peace and prosperity.
The communique partly reads, “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, enabling them to take up their tenure for the leadership of our dear country.
The Chief of Staff to the President and National Convener of the forum, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, described Tinubu as an exceptional and generational leader who deserved the support of all Nigerians to continue the noble task beyond 2027.
Speaking on the theme of the event, Gbajabiamila emphasised that unity among Nigerians is crucial for building a progressive and prosperous nation.
According to him, nation-building requires a collaborative effort from the government and every Nigerian, both at home and abroad, to contribute to national development.
Gbajabiamila stated that Tinubu, as a matter of policy and practice, was committed to building a vibrant Nigeria that could fix its infrastructural challenge, feed its citizens and provide adequate security for the people.
“The argument for the southwest in the South to complete their eight years has been canvassed; the argument for President Tinubu to complete his eight-year term has been said loud and clear.
” I am in support of this call, because it can’t be faulted. So for the sake of unity, equity and fairness, President Tinubu deserves another term.
” But beyond this argument, the President is also taking bold and daring steps to reset the nation for a greater tomorrow and therefore deserves the support of all to complete this good job,” he said.
Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, while welcoming the former legislators to the event, lauded the initiative and urged them to continue to rally support for a united Nigeria.
In his address, Gov. Dapo Abiodun described Tinubu as a visionary leader implementing crucial reforms that are positioning the country for greater heights.
The governor said that the president deserved another term and that all the forums should join forces with the rest of Nigerians to return the president to power in 2027.
The summit had in attendance the National Coordinator of the forum, Raphael Igbokwe, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs Patricia Etteh, and former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba.
Others are the Coordinator of the Forum of Former Northern Legislators, Rufai Chachangi, former House Speaker Yakubu Dogara, among other serving and past lawmakers.
