Tinubu re-election push gathers steam as ex-Speakers join campaign

• Vow nationwide mobilisation for second term, reform continuity

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu’s re-election push gathered further momentum yesterday as former Speakers and Deputy Speakers of State Houses of Assembly joined the campaign for a second term, pledging to mobilise across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory for his return in 2027 and continuity of his reform programme.

The endorsement was reinforced by leading political figures at the gathering who advanced separate arguments for continuity.

Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, said Tinubu was looking beyond the next election and “planting” reforms for future generations; former Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, said the President should be allowed to complete the reform journey; while Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, defended subsidy removal but insisted that its gains must be translated into investments that expand Nigeria’s productive capacity.

Meeting under the aegis of the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of State Houses of Assembly of Nigeria (FOPSHAN) at its National Summit in Abuja, the former lawmakers unanimously endorsed Tinubu for another term and resolved to take the campaign for his administration’s policies to the grassroots.

The summit, themed, “Bold Leadership, Bold Reforms: From Subsidy to Renewed Hope – Affecting the Economic Trajectory and Digital Leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration,” was chaired by Anyim, while First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, attended as Special Guest of Honour. FOPSHAN National Chairman, Senator Wasiu Eshilokun Sani, hosted the gathering, while Nwifuru chairs its Board of Trustees.

In its resolutions, FOPSHAN endorsed the administration’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy, before declaring its support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.

“In recognition of the President’s colourful, visionary leadership and commitment to national development, FOPSHAN unanimously endorses President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for a second term in office in the 2027 general elections,” the resolution stated.

The former presiding officers pledged to deploy their nationwide network to mobilise support for the President, with former legislators at national, state and local government levels expected to engage Nigerians and explain the administration’s policies and programmes.

They also appealed to the First Lady to adopt members of the forum as ambassadors, particularly in explaining the administration’s social intervention programmes targeting women, children and vulnerable groups.

FOPSHAN also urged Tinubu and state governors to draw on the experience of former presiding officers in appointments and policy formulation.

“The conference calls on the President and governors to continue to tap into the wealth of legislative experience of former presiding officers in appointments and policy formulation for the good governance of the country,” it said.

Anyim: President planting for next generation

Anyim, in his intervention, said reforms were rarely popular when introduced because their benefits often became apparent only after the immediate difficulties of implementation.

“Reforms at every time have never always been very popular, but only courageous leaders who are not thinking about today but tomorrow actually embark on reforms,” he said.

According to him, his assessment of Tinubu’s political trajectory showed a President looking beyond immediate electoral considerations.

“I have observed the political trajectory of President Bola Tinubu, and I am to say he was never a politician of today, but a statesman of the moment and the next levels.

“He is far-sighted and visionary, but above all, he is courageous and strategic in planning as well as in execution.”

Anyim cited the student loan policy, state police initiative and removal of petrol subsidy as examples of measures he said were targeted at longer-term national objectives.

“His student loan policies target not today, but the next generation of leaders. The state police programme targets not today, but the stability of our social environment for the next generation,” he said.

On subsidy removal, he added: “Subsidy removal is not necessarily for today, but to bail out today and to secure the future, because reforms are not for immediate impact.”

Likening reforms to farming, Anyim said: “A reformer is therefore likened to a farmer. A farmer hopes for harvest, not during planting season, but harvest season. Statesman plans for the next generation to harvest.”

• Lalong seeks time to complete reform journey

Lalong also made a case for continuity, arguing that Tinubu had taken difficult decisions which required time to produce the intended results.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has exemplified those bold steps and come 2027, Nigerians will reward him to complete the great work,” he said.

He described petrol subsidy removal as one of the difficult economic decisions confronting successive administrations, arguing that the old regime consumed resources that could have gone into productive investment.

“For decades, Nigeria consumed what we did not produce. We succeeded in making our future children pay for cheap petrol,” Lalong said.

“Everyone knew the truth but no leader had the courage to confront it.”

The former Plateau governor, however, acknowledged that subsidy removal had increased transportation and living costs and placed pressure on households and businesses. He said macroeconomic gains would ultimately have to translate into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians. He identified infrastructure, agriculture, human capital development, security, social protection and opportunities for young Nigerians as critical areas, stressing that continuity of the reforms must also involve “correction, accountability and improved implementation.”

• Nwifuru wants subsidy gains invested in productive sectors

Nwifuru similarly defended the reform programme but stressed that its success should ultimately be measured by its impact on productive capacity.

“We must invest in agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, education, energy and technology. We must create an environment where Nigerians can produce more, businesses can grow and young people can find meaningful opportunities,” he said.

The governor also called for stronger legislative oversight, greater fiscal responsibility, stronger democratic institutions and devolution of powers, arguing that former presiding officers should continue to deploy their experience in support of national development.

Eshilokun said the gathering was intended to provide experienced legislators an opportunity to interrogate major government policies, including subsidy removal, changes in federal allocations and efforts to strengthen local government financial autonomy.

“These are consequential decisions which immediately affect citizens and institutions and they therefore deserve thoughtful, honest and constructive engagement,” he said.

He added that the ultimate test of the reforms would be their implementation, the strength of institutions and the extent to which Nigerians experienced their impact.