Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, has described the President’s decision to end fuel subsidies as an act of visionary leadership, prioritizing Nigeria’s long-term interests over short-term political gain.
Speaking at the 2025 Southern Summit of former lawmakers in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Gbajabiamila highlighted that Tinubu’s administration has been committed to implementing difficult but necessary reforms, including new tax legislation and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which guarantees tertiary education for every Nigerian child.
“These measures reflect a focus on the nation’s future rather than the next election,” Gbajabiamila stated, noting that while some reforms may cause temporary difficulties, their long-term benefits are significant.
The summit, themed “National Unity: Bedrock of Nation Building,” brought together prominent former lawmakers and political figures, including ex-Senate President Ken Nnamani, former House Speakers Yakubu Dogara and Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, APC National Secretary Dr. Ajibola Bashiru, and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Gbajabiamila urged Nigerians to be patient as the government addresses longstanding challenges, warning that critics misrepresent the administration’s progress.
Yakubu Dogara cautioned against being distracted by “pretenders” seeking to exploit minor issues, stressing that the nation should focus on unity. The Northern Caucus, led by Rufai Chanchagi, reaffirmed its support for allowing the South to complete its full tenure in the presidency while pledging collaboration in future elections.
Governor Abiodun described the participants as guardians of Nigeria’s democratic values and emphasized that the South, along with President Tinubu, should complete two terms in office.
The summit concluded with a communique endorsing Tinubu as the South’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election, while advocating continued national unity and cooperation between regions.
