The Forum of Former Presiding Officers of State Houses of Assembly of Nigeria (FOPSHAN) have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office pledging to mobilise all their supporters and move to the grassroots to garner support for the President.
The Forum also commended the administration’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy noting that it saved the nation’s economy from total collapse at a critical period.
Speaking at an event which brought together Former Presiding Officers who are serving in other capacities and those not serving, First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu challenged the former Speakers and Deputy Speakers of State Houses of Assembly to remain active in public service, saying leaving political office should never mean abandoning the nation.
Speaking on the theme, “Bold Leadership, Bold Reforms: From Subsidy to Renewed Hope, Assessing the Economic Trajectory and Visionary Leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration,” the First Lady said Nigeria still needs the wisdom, experience and networks of the former presiding officers.
She urged the former lawmakers to deploy their experience towards strengthening democratic institutions, mentoring younger legislators and preserving institutional memory.
“This summit is a celebration of service, leadership, experience and sacrifice. Leaving the political office should never mean leaving public service.
“Nigeria still needs your wisdom, experience and networks. I therefore urge you to use this forum as a platform for preserving institutional memory, mentoring younger legislators, promoting democratic stability, and continuing to contribute to the development of the various communities where we serve,” she said.
On the Forum’s endorsement of President Tinubu’s 2027 bid, Senator Oluremi Tinubu expressed appreciation, saying the backing was significant because it came from people who had themselves occupied senior positions within the legislative arm of government.
“I especially acknowledge and appreciate your endorsement of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his second term in office.
“Coming from men and women who have themselves presided over legislative institutions, your endorsement carries special significance. You understand the demands of governance, the difficulty of making critical decisions, and the courage required to pursue reforms in the national interest,” she said.
The First Lady said the administration had, since its inception, been working to reposition the Nigerian economy and lay what she described as a solid foundation for sustainable national development.
“Since the inception of this administration, Mr President has worked tirelessly to reposition an economy and lay a solid foundation for sustainable national development.
“Nation building is a continuous process and the gains already recorded must be consolidated for the benefit of the present and future generations,” the First Lady said.
Former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, in his remarks as Chairman of the occasion declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is “not a politician of today” but a statesman taking difficult decisions to secure Nigeria’s future, saying the President Tinubu is thinking beyond the next election and “planting” reforms for the next generation.
He defended the administration’s reform agenda, including petrol subsidy removal, student loans and the proposed state police initiative.
According to the former Senate President, reforms are rarely popular when they are introduced because their benefits are often realised long after the immediate pain of implementation.
“I rarely talk about iconic leaders. I rather observe them because most of the time they are not defined by the projects they do. They are rather defined by their vision and reforms to implement,” he said.
The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) argued that reforms become necessary when societies reach critical points requiring fundamental political, social and economic changes, adding that only courageous leaders are willing to make decisions whose benefits may not be immediately apparent.
“Reforms at every time had never always been very popular, but only courageous leaders who are not thinking about today but tomorrow actually embark on reforms,” he said.
Senator Anyim Pius Anyim said his assessment of President Tinubu’s political trajectory had convinced him that the President was looking beyond immediate political 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 said.
He cited the administration’s student loan policy, state police initiative and removal of petrol subsidy as examples of measures he said were designed with long-term national objectives in mind.
“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,” the former SGF said.
Former Plateau State Governor and ex-Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Sen. Simon Lalong, in his presentation, acknowledged the economic difficulties generated by the reform programme but said Nigeria needed to move from macroeconomic stabilisation to shared prosperity.
Sen. Lalong examined the removal of petrol subsidy, foreign-exchange reforms, fiscal consolidation, debt management, revenue generation and tax reforms as key components of the administration’s economic programme.
He noted that subsidy removal had increased transportation and living costs and placed considerable pressure on households and businesses, but argued that addressing the issue had been postponed for years by previous governments.
The former Governor of Plateau State said assessments cited from the World Bank indicated movement towards macroeconomic stability, while poverty remained high and household incomes had yet to fully recover.
He therefore stressed that macroeconomic gains would need to translate into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
Sen. Lalong identified infrastructure, agriculture, human capital development, security, social protection and youth opportunities as critical to achieving that transition.
He called for sustained investment in roads and bridges, while insisting that infrastructure projects must be delivered with quality and value for money.
In agriculture, he said the government needed to look beyond the distribution of inputs and strengthen irrigation, mechanisation, technology, storage, processing, transportation and marketing.
Sen. Lalong said the Renewed Hope Agenda should be treated as an interconnected framework covering food security, poverty reduction, economic growth, jobs, infrastructure, security, human capital, governance and the Rule of Law.
“President Tinubu has done his part by taking the bold decision. Our part is to help our people understand that the pains of today are the gains of tomorrow.
“We must tell Nigerians that bold leadership is not about being popular today, it is about being right for society,” the former Plateau State Governor said.
Earlier, the National Chairman of the Forum, Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun Sanni, said the gathering was intended to provide an avenue for experienced legislators to examine the consequences of major policy decisions and contribute to national development.
He said the removal of fuel subsidy, changes in federal allocation and efforts to strengthen local government financial autonomy had generated significant national debate.
“These are consequential decisions which immediately affect citizens and institutions and they therefore deserve thoughtful, honest and constructive engagement,” the former Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly said.
Sen. Sani Eshilokun said the success of reforms would ultimately depend on the quality of implementation, the strength of institutions and the extent to which Nigerians experienced their impact.
He urged participants to identify unintended consequences and areas requiring improvement rather than merely reflecting on government policies.
He also called for stronger collaboration among the three tiers of government, saying increased public revenue should be reflected in responsible governance and improved public services.
Sen. Eshinlokun equally acknowledged First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who was Special Guest of Honour, her legislative background and her continued involvement in issues concerning women, children and vulnerable Nigerians.
Earlier, Ebonyi State Governor and Chairman, BoT of the Forum Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru in his address stressed the importance of cooperation between the executive and legislature, drawing on his experience as a former Speaker.
“Those years taught me an enduring lesson. Governance is not the responsibility of the executive alone; it is a partnership between institutions,” Nwifuru said.
He said the economic reforms should ultimately translate into increased productive capacity, urging greater investment in agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, education, energy and technology.
“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”.
Governor Nwifuru also urged stronger legislative oversight and greater fiscal responsibility, alongside the strengthening of democratic institutions and devolution of powers.
“We have occupied the chambers where laws are made, scrutinised and voices of our constituents were amplified. We therefore cannot afford to be spectators in the journey of national development” the Ebonyi State Governor said.
Resolutions were also adopted at the forum’s National Summit held Thursday, 17 September, 2026, in Abuja.
“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”.
