Barau champions Tinubu’s re-election at ex-legislators’ summit

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin has called for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 to ensure full implementation of his comprehensive reform agenda for the positive transformation of the country.

Barau spoke on Saturday at the 2026 National Summit of Former Legislators with the theme: “National unity and nation building: Beyond 2031,” in Abuja.

Organised by the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL) with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, as the convener, the summit drew former legislators from across political divides, including former Senate Presidents, Pius Anyim and Ken Nnamani, as well as former Speakers of the House of Representatives, Patricia Eteh and Yakubu Dogara, among others.

His call amplified similar calls from the NFFL National Coordinator, Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe, former Senate Presidents, Speakers, and others, urging support for President Tinubu to complete two full terms in line with the rotation principle that has ensured sanity and equality since the commencement of the Fourth Republic.

“I appeal that we should abide by the principle of rotation, which has brought sanity and equality since the beginning of the Fourth Republic.

“Of course, now the president, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is in his first term, and, as noted by other speakers, let’s not reinvent the wheel.

“We’ve seen that the rotational system is working. We shall allow it to work. And so, as said by the Honourable Tunji Ojo, the president is doing well. He has said a few of the things the President is doing to bring prosperity to our nation. So, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be allowed to do two full terms,” Senator Barau was quoted in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir.

Responding to requests from the National Coordinator and a former Senate President, Barau pledged to forward the proposal for embedding the rotational system in the Constitution to the National Assembly. “I will certainly do that,” he affirmed.

Highlighting the summit’s theme, the Deputy President of the Senate stressed the need for national unity, mentorship, and continuity in governance.

He assured of the collaboration between the National Assembly and NFFL, noting that “The leadership of the National Assembly remains open to collaboration with NFFL and similar bodies. We recognise that governance does not end with tenure, and that patriotism is a lifelong duty.”

He further commended the NFFL for the timely initiative, emphasising the enduring role of former legislators in Nigeria’s democracy.

“Former legislators occupy a unique and respected place in our national life. You are men and women who have had the privilege and the burden of lawmaking. Your experience, institutional memory, and statesmanship remain invaluable national assets,” he stated.

Bbarau, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, urged the former members of parliament to generate ideas for a stronger Nigeria.

In the communique read at the end of the summit, a vote of confidence was passed on President Tinubu, and he was endorsed as the forum’s sole candidate for the 2027 Presidential election.

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A former Senator, Yakubu Oseni (Kogi Central), moved the motion for the adoption of the communique, and Senator Florence Ita Giwa (Cross River) seconded it.