The Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, has described President Bola Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy as an act of “extraordinary statesmanship,” stressing that the reforms reflect a long-term vision rather than political calculation.
Speaking at the 2025 Southern Summit of former legislators in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Gbajabiamila highlighted that Tinubu’s administration has consistently tackled difficult reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and new tax legislation, to ensure fairness and economic stability.
“The absolute clarity of the President’s vision is the reason this administration has set out from day one to tackle the most difficult reforms. Today, the Federal Government of Nigeria is no longer paying inflated subsidy claims that benefit only a tiny minority of our citizens,” he said.
Gbajabiamila also praised initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), guaranteeing tertiary education for all Nigerian children, calling it “another indicator of Tinubu’s commitment to future generations.”
He acknowledged that reforms come with temporary hardships and urged Nigerians to remain patient.
“Fixing what has long been broken imposes costs, entails sacrifice and takes time,” he said, emphasising that data confirms the administration’s progress despite criticism.
Former Speaker Yakubu Dogara cautioned against allowing “pretenders” to distract Nigerians from substantial national issues, describing them as focused on “vengeance, distraction and power.” He urged colleagues to commit to building a united nation.
The Northern Caucus, led by Rufai Chanchagi, reiterated its support for the South to complete the presidential tenure and endorsed President Tinubu’s continuation in 2027.
Governor Dapo Abiodun described the forum members as custodians of Nigeria’s democratic journey and called for Tinubu to be allowed to serve two terms.
In a communique issued after the summit, the forum formally adopted Tinubu as the Sole Candidate of the South for the 2027 presidential election. The statement urged the South to support the North in 2031 to ensure continuity, emphasising national unity as the foundation of nation-building.
