Listeners:
Top listeners:
104.9FM Best rock music demo
Demo Radio Nr.1 For New Music And All The Hits!
Demo Radio Techno Top Music Radio
play_arrow
Police Commissioner Launches Weapon and Riot Control Training for FCT Officers Democracy Radio
By Oluwakemi Kindness
Former members of Nigeria’s National Assembly have formally endorsed President Bola Tinubu as their sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
They also urged the constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency as a tool for national stability and unity.
The resolutions on Saturday emerged from the 2026 National Summit of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL) held in Abuja, where participants critically reviewed Nigeria’s democratic trajectory, political stability, and constitutional direction.
The forum reaffirmed its commitment to democracy, peaceful coexistence, and national cohesion, stressing that the country’s political, social, and regional challenges must be resolved through dialogue, consultation, and constitutional mechanisms. Inclusive engagement, they said, remains central to sustaining unity in Nigeria’s diverse federation.
Advocating Rotational Presidency and Political Stability
On power-sharing, former lawmakers reiterated their support for the rotation of the presidency, proposing that in the interest of fairness and national balance, the office should rotate to the North in 2031 following President Tinubu’s tenure.
They called for the principle of rotational presidency to be formally embedded in the Constitution to reduce political tension, foster inter-regional trust, and provide clarity for future generations.
The forum also emphasized continuity of reforms under President Tinubu, advocating that he be allowed to complete the full eight years aligned with the existing zoning arrangement.
A vote of absolute confidence in the President was passed, endorsing him as the sole candidate for the 2027 general election.
Gbajabiamila Defends Rotational Presidency
In a keynote address, President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, defended the North–South rotational presidency, warning against personal ambition undermining Nigeria’s delcate political balance.
He described the arrangement as “wisdom, not weakness,” designed to manage diversity, prevent conflict, and stabilize the polity.
“No personal aspiration, no transient political gain, should be allowed to endanger the hard-won balance that sustains our country,” Gbajabiamila stated, signaling support for President Tinubu’s continuity beyond a single term.
He framed the summit’s theme, “National Unity and Nation Building; Beyond 2031” as a call for sustained leadership and long-term governance.
Warning Against Identity Politics
Gbajabiamila also cautioned against the rising use of ethnic, tribal, and religious identities as political tools, noting that while identity-based mobilisation may offer short-term gain, it erodes trust, democratic institutions, and state stability.
He urged leaders to prioritize shared destiny over division, stressing that disagreement should not equate to hostility, nor diversity to disloyalty.
Summit Highlights: Consensus on Continuity and Reform
Deputy Senate President commended former legislators as custodians of institutional memory, emphasizing their role in sustaining Nigeria’s democratic development.
He praised the summit’s theme as timely and reflective of the nation’s need for inclusive dialogue, continuity, and trust-building, while dismissing emerging opposition movements as lacking the capacity for sustained political relevance.
Former House Speaker Yakubu Dogara described the gathering as a convergence of “institutional architects,” highlighting progress in infrastructure and security under the Tinubu administration, particularly in the North-East, where communities already view the 2027 election as settled.
Other participants, including Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, and former Speaker Patricia Etteh, called for unity, continuity, and constitutional reform.
They urged lawmakers to use the ongoing constitutional amendment process to formally enshrine rotational presidency.
The summit concluded with a call for political leaders, institutions, and citizens to uphold democratic values, justice, and national cohesion, pledging active engagement in Nigeria’s democratic journey beyond 2031.
By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, says the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has failed to present clear alternatives to the reforms being implemented by the Federal Government. This is as he warns that the opposition party may not be taken seriously ahead of the […]
