Former Southern Legislators endorse Tinubu for second term at Abeokuta Summit

The Southern Summit of Former Legislators on Saturday formally adopted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office, at a summit held at June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital.

Penpushing reports that the former legislators in a communiqué issued at the end of the Southern Summit adopted the second term of the incumbent President ahead of the 2027 election.

The former lawmakers equally acknowledged the various reforms of Tinubu, which they said have, in the last two years, re-engineered the economy, strengthened the currency, and set the nation on the path of socio-economic recovery.

Penpushing further reports that the summit stressed the need for state governments to key into the reforms and support the President in his efforts to birth a new nation.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, noted that with the signing into law of the tax reforms, Tinubu has ushered in a new era of economic justice built on fairness, accountability, and national purpose.

Penpushing also reports that Gbajabiamila who is also the convener of the Summit, while quoting the World Bank Development Update, said the country’s economy expanded by 4.6 percent in the final quarter of 2024, pushing annual growth to 3.4 percent, the fastest pace in a decade.

The Chief of Staff added that the country’s fiscal deficit narrowed from 5.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product in 2023 to 3 percent in 2024, driving the federation revenues from N16.8 trillion in 2023 to an estimated N31.9 trillion in 2024.

Penpushing reports that he pointed out that 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.

The former House of Representatives Speaker added that nation building is a joint task that goes beyond building roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals; stressing that it is about forging a sense of common identity and purpose among the citizens.

“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’, he stated.

“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 would no doubt help channel more federal resources to develop and implement infrastructure and human capital development across the country’, Gbajabiamila said.

“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’, he said

Penpushing further reports that, Governor Dapo Abiodun, who is the host  noted that nation building isn’t the sole responsibility of one region, one party, or one institution, but a shared duty that transcends tribal, religious, political, and economic divides.

The Governor in his message added that unity does not mean uniformity, but a celebration of diversity under the framework of justice, equity, and respect, and equally acknowledged the former legislators as embodiments and essence of representative democracy.

Penpushing also reports that Abiodun pointed out that apart from performing legislative duties, they equally perform oversight functions and representation through which the voice of the people at the grassroots is brought to the government at the center.

“You must be committed to a united, secure, and economically vibrant region. You must continue to support policies and programs that promote inclusive governance, human capital development, and inter-regional cooperation,” he said.

Penpushing reports that Chairman of the occasion, Senator 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.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, on his part urged Nigerians not to allow pretenders in the political space to cause them to lose faith in the Tinubu-led administration.

Penpushing further reports that Nnamani, however, observed that the agitations of the so-called pretenders are not about patriotism, but more about vengeance and power, affirming that the structure of the pretenders was built on mendacity, fury, and spectacle, and equally noted that the country has begun to experience economic recovery.

The former Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon Patricia Etteh in her remarks 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.

Penpushing also reports that 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.

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