ABEOKUTA – Former Northern Legislators have reiterated the call for a rotational presidency between the North and the Southern part of Nigeria.
The former northern legislators under the aegis of Forum of Former Northern Legislators on Saturday, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital equally passed a vote of confidence on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, endirsing his re-election for a second term of office come year 2027.
The Forum gave their endorsement at the Southern Summit of Former Legislators 2025 organized by National Forum of Former Legislators.
Led by the Hon. Fai Ahmed Chachangi and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR), Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, the Forum premised its endorsement of Tinubu for a second term on the belief that such would drive the much desired progress and unity for the country.
They said Tinubu’s continuity in 2027 will strike a balance in the polity of the country.
The Forum, however, urged the Bola Ahmed Tinubu led federal government to step up efforts in the fight against insecurity, particularly in Zamfara, Niger, Plateau, and Borno States.
The forum further charged Tinubu’s administration to further evolve policies that bring unity among the six geo-political zones rather than those that may cause division bickering.
Earlier in his opening address, the National Coordinator of National Forum of Former Legislators, Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe commended the President Tinubu led Federal Government’s innovative reforms such as the establishment of the Regional Development Commissions; the deregulation of the electricity sector that gave states, the powers to generate and regulate electricity; the Financial Autonomy for Local Governments; the Call for State Police and the Student Loan Scheme (NELFUND).
According to Igbokwe, these reforms have impacted positively on the potentials 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.
Speaking in the importance of the summit, which has as its theme: “National Unity, Bedrock of Nation Building”, Igbokwe expressed optimism that the Summit will afford the Nigerian Legislators the needed opportunity to rise and evolve an outcomes that further unite the citizens more “and promote the peace, Unity and prosperity of Nigeria”.
“The Forum notes with delight some innovative reforms of the Government of the day which includes: The establishment of Regional; Development Commissions; Deregulation of the Electricity Sector to give states powers to generate and regulate electricity; Financial Autonomy for Local Governments; Call for State Police; Student Loan Scheme (NELFUND)”.
“I wish to thank our convener, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila for accepting to be our guest speaker at today’s event, and we look forward to an exciting and inspiring presentation.
We further thank him for being a great pillar of support and good Ambassador of the present administration.
“Let me most respectfully, urge the Government and our serving colleagues to please consider the re-instatement of Former Legislators both at the National, State and Local Government Councils as Statutory delegates to National Conventions and Congresses”.
“In same vein, we wish to appeal on behalf of our colleagues of the 2nd and 3rd Republic for the payment of their severance allowance. Let me thank specially our Former Presiding Officers who have been of immense assistance.
“While we thank the Federal Government for considering most of them, other Former Legislators for appointment, we also appeal that post service benefits be instituted for them as applicable to heads of other Arms of Government”.
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