The Southern Summit of Former Legislators has formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office.

The endorsement was contained in a communiqué issued at the close of the summit, which held on Saturday at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The forum of former lawmakers praised President Tinubu’s reforms over the past two years, noting that they have re-engineered the economy, strengthened the naira, and placed the nation on the path of socio-economic recovery. They also urged state governments to align with these reforms and support the President’s efforts to build a new Nigeria.

In his address, the Chief of Staff to the President and convener of the summit, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, highlighted the significance of the newly signed tax reforms, describing them as a foundation for a new era of economic justice anchored on fairness, accountability, and national purpose. Citing the World Bank Development Update, he revealed that Nigeria’s economy grew by 4.6 percent in the last quarter of 2024, pushing annual growth to 3.4 percent — the fastest in a decade. He added that the fiscal deficit had dropped from 5.4 percent of GDP in 2023 to 3 percent in 2024, while federation revenues rose sharply from ₦16.8 trillion in 2023 to an estimated ₦31.9 trillion in 2024.

Gbajabiamila further stressed the importance of unity, noting that without peace and cohesion, no nation can truly develop. According to him, “Nation building is not only about roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals; it is about forging a common identity and shared purpose.” He also commended President Tinubu for establishing development commissions across the six geo-political zones, a move he said would channel federal resources into infrastructure and human capital development nationwide.

Welcoming delegates to Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun reiterated that nation-building is a shared duty that transcends tribal, religious, political, and economic divides. He emphasized that unity does not equate to uniformity but rather a celebration of diversity underpinned by justice, equity, and respect. He described former legislators as embodiments of representative democracy, noting that beyond lawmaking, their oversight and grassroots representation continue to give voice to the people at the national level.

“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,” the governor charged.

The Chairman of the occasion, Senator Ken Nnamani, in his opening remarks, stressed the importance of platforms like the summit in proffering solutions to national challenges. Former House of Representatives Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, warned Nigerians not to be swayed by “pretenders” in the political space, whom he described as motivated by vengeance and power rather than patriotism. Dogara maintained that under President Tinubu, the nation had already begun to see signs of economic recovery.

Also speaking, former House of Representatives Speaker, Patricia Etteh, called for greater cohesion, dialogue, and shared purpose, describing unity as a key ingredient for peace and democratic progress.

The National Coordinator of the summit, Hon. Raphael Igbokwe, assured participants that the forum would continue to serve as a platform for generating solutions to Nigeria’s challenges, while urging subnational governments to collaborate with the federal government to move the nation forward.