News
Former Lawmakers Back Tinubu for 2027, Push Rotational Presidency
By Gloria Ikibah
The National Forum of Former Legislators has endorsed President Bola Tinubu as its preferred candidate for the 2027 general election and passed a vote of confidence in his administration and leadership.
The endorsement was announced in a communiqué issued at the end of the forum’s national summit, themed National Unity and Nation Building, which was held in Abuja on Saturday.
The group also formally adopted Tinubu as its sole candidate for the next presidential election.
Presenting the communiqué, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Babangida Nguroje, said the forum supports the inclusion of a rotational presidency in the Constitution, alternating between the northern and southern regions of the country.
The forum further called for the presidency to return to the North after the completion of the current southern-led administration under President Tinubu, describing the arrangement as essential for national unity and balanced governance.
“In keeping with the spirit of equity, inclusion and national balance, we affirm that the presidency should return to the Northern region in 2031 by the grace of God after the completion of the southern presidency and the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“To eliminate doubts, reduce political tension, and build enduring trust between the northern and southern regions, we call for the principle of rotational presidency to be enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“In order to consolidate reforms, strengthen national unity and deepen democratic governance, we collectively resolve that the current President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be supported to complete a full eight-year term.
“We, therefore, pass a vote of absolute confidence in the administration of President Bola Tinubu and his leadership and adopt him as our sole candidate for the 2027 general election,” the communique read in parts.
In his remarks, the Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, emphasised the importance of national unity, a principle he said the forum strongly represents.
He noted that for Nigeria to play a meaningful role in shaping the emerging global order, the country must first achieve a shared sense of purpose at home.
Gbajabiamila stated that Nigerians are fortunate to be led at this critical time by a President who understands both the strengths and vulnerabilities of the nation’s diversity, and who recognises that unity should never be undermined by narrow interests or short-term political ambitions.
He added that under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria’s future will not be shaped by those who exploit historical divisions to fuel discord. Instead, the administration remains committed to engaging citizens across all lines with fairness, inclusion and shared responsibility, while strengthening national unity through balanced development and responsive governance.
“Yet achieving national unity is not the responsibility of government alone. Political actors such as those gathered here occupy a uniquely influential position. Your words shape public discourse. Your conduct models acceptable behaviour. Your choices either expand or constrain the space for cooperation.
“Building unity across ethnic and tribal lines requires deliberate effort, sustained dialogue, cross-regional alliances, and inclusive narratives that affirm the dignity of all groups. This does not require the erasure of difference. It requires the recognition that diversity can be a source of strength when governed by fairness and mutual respect,” he said.
Gbajabiamila noted that the principle of a rotational presidency between North and South stood as one of the clearest expressions of principled compromise in the service of national interest.
According to him, this principle was not born of weakness, but of the wisdom of earlier generations of political leaders who understood that in a diverse nation such as Nigeria, inclusion is the foundation of stability.
“This arrangement was deliberately designed to manage our differences, ease tensions, prevent needless conflict, and keep Nigeria steadily moving forward on the path of unity and progress. Those who now seek to upend this understanding in pursuit of narrow, short-term political ambitions must pause and reflect.
“No personal aspiration, no transient political gain, should be allowed to endanger the hard-won balance that sustains our country or to place individual desires above the enduring interests of Nigeria and the collective well-being of its people,” he added.
The Chief of Staff, acknowledged that a critical challenge facing Nigerian politics is the temptation to mobilise identity as a shortcut to power, noting that ethnic and tribal affiliations, deeply rooted in history and culture, can easily be transformed into instruments of political exclusion.
He stated that the Tinubu presidency made fairness, openness and broad participation core principles of how government operates, saying a historic milestone has been reached as each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones now got its own development commission.
Gbajabiamila said the government had advanced numerous initiatives built on the foundation of national unity with infrastructure development positioned as a unifying force.
“The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road under construction, crossing several southern states, and the ongoing Sokoto–Badagry highway, connecting Nigeria’s far North to the South-West, represent more than trade routes—they create pathways for inter-ethnic interaction and mutual appreciation,” he added.
For his part, Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau said as the nation navigates challenges of governance, national cohesion, economic reform, and institutional trust, the wisdom of those who had “been there” is more needed than ever.
He said platforms such as the summit provide an opportunity to reflect, mentor, advise, and contribute constructively to national discourse beyond partisan divides.
Barau assured that the leadership of the National Assembly remains open to collaboration with NFFL and similar bodies on the conviction governance does not end with tenure and patriotism is a lifelong duty.
In his opening remarks, NFFL National Coordinator, Raphael Igbokwe stated that the forum had at its regional summits resolved that the southern region completes a eight year tenure of presidency through Tinubu as bringing another person from the region is tantamount to giving a blank check for tenure elongation.
He commended the present administration for its numerous reforms and urge it to remain focused on turning around the socio-economic fortunes of the country for the benefit of all Nigerians.
Also urged the federal government to intensify efforts towards “identifying, exposing and prosecuting sponsors of terrorism, ensuring that they face the full route of the law” while calling on all citizens to promote ethnic and religious tolerance.
Domestic prices of petrol and diesel are expected to decline following a sharp drop in global crude oil prices triggered by the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
As of Saturday morning, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude fell by 11 percent and 9 percent to $83.85 and $90.38 per barrel, respectively, down from about $100 per barrel.
The decline comes after Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz has been fully reopened for vessel passage.
The development has begun to reflect in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market, where depot marketers have slightly reduced fuel prices.
Petrol prices at depots now range between N1,205 and N1,206 per litre— about N5 to N6 higher than the Dangote Refinery price of N1,200 per litre.
This pricing trend was observed among marketers such as Aiteo, Bono, and NIPCO.
Meanwhile, diesel prices at depots in Lagos, including Menj and Duport, stood at N1,775 per liter.
Market observers say the drop in crude oil prices has triggered panic selling among depot marketers.
Despite this, retail pump prices have remained unchanged as of filing this report, with petrol selling between N1,290 and N1,333 per litre, while diesel ranges from N1,850 to N1,900 per litre.
The President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association, Abubakar Maigandi, confirmed the development, noting that further reductions are likely if the downward trend in crude prices persists.
“We expect fuel prices to drop in the coming days if crude oil prices continue to decline.
Daily Post
An Area Court at Centre-Igboro, Ilorin, Kwara State, has dissolved the Islamic marriage between a couple, Toyin Ajibola and Bashirat Mohammed on grounds of lack of money.
The presiding judge, Hammad Ajumonbi, while delivering ruling said that even though Toyin did not want to divorce his wife, she still had the needed to move on not be left stranded.
He, dissolved their marriage and granted custody of the three children from their union to the wife.
The court also ordered the woman to observe the three months iddah (waiting) period before remarrying.
Ajumonbi ordered Toyin to be responsible for the feeding of their children.
“The defendant should have unrestricted access to their children, while the plaintiff should always make their children available any time the defendant requested to see them,” the judge said.
Earlier, Bashirat had applied for divorce saying that she was tired of her marriage to her husband due to paucity of fund and her husband’s irresponsibility.
“I want the court to grant me divorce so that I can have rest of mind,” she said.
The husband, however, told the court that he was still interested in his wife even though he was financially handicapped.
“I have been trying hard to get money to feed my family, but couldn’t.
“It is so painful that I can’t get money to visit her and the children when they left home,” he said.
News
Angry Ex-Senate president, Saraki slams Kwara gov, says “you never completed secondary sch education”
Ex-Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has described as a “desperate ploy by a drowning politician” the move by Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, to initiate a case of criminal culpability against him over the Offa robbery incident of 2018 “which I know nothing about”.
While describing the criminal case as “dirty politics taken too far and too low”, Saraki warned Abdulrazaq to desist from this despicable act of using the Offa robbery incident as a weapon anytime he came under political pressure over his poor policy conception and failure to live up to expectations as a governor of a state known as the State of Harmony.
Ordinarily, my attitude to this insidious move by the incumbent Governor of Kwara State to initiate a case of criminal liability against me in the unfortunate incident of armed robbery which happened in Offa community eight years ago should be to shrug it off and say that we will meet in court since I know I have nothing to do with the incident or any other crime for that matter.
“However, I have been inundated with calls from many well-meaning Nigerians who were surprised by this turn of events. Thus, for the benefit of the general public, let me categorically state that I have nothing to do directly or indirectly with any case of armed robbery or any criminal matter, whatsoever. The Offa robbery incident was designed under the Buhari administration with the connivance of some individuals from Kwara State as an instrument of blackmail to seize political power from our group in 2019.
“The case was investigated by the police team from the office of the Inspector General of Police. However, following the investigation, in two separate legal advices dated June 22nd, 2018, and August 23rd, 2018, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) stated that there was no evidence directly or indirectly linking me to the robbery incident.
“ The DPP in his first legal advice stated that “For the Senate President and the Kwara State Governor, this office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects”.
In a second report, the DPP stated that “With regards to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, since there is no departure from the earlier findings in the interim report, this office is still unable to establish any prima facie case against him for any offences of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide”.
Based on the DPP’s advice, four suspects were charged in court by the Kwara State Government. They were convicted at the trial court and the conviction was upheld by the appellate court. The matter is now before the Supreme Court.
Suddenly, the governor woke up after I granted my interview to Channels TV where I commented on the insecurity in the state and thought he could resurrect these baseless charges against his two predecessors. I noticed that in his propaganda plan to circulate his frivolous charges and other skewed documents as paid advertisements in the national newspapers, even before serving the defendants, he intentionally hid the DPP reports and other documents which put a lie to the charade he is perpetuating. These are deliberate efforts to mislead the media and induce them to give purchased publicity to the frame-up.
“Therefore, I am under no illusion that this case was a frivolous move and an abuse of court process to embarrass my person. My legal team will definitely meet this governor in court. I believe that Abdulrahman just feels that he could still use this case to harass and defame my person by abusing the judicial process. He had tried to induce the families of the victims to initiate civil litigations against the other respondents and me, but he seemed not to be making progress with that mischievous effort because the families backed out.
“I need to remind him that this vicious attack on my reputation because he enjoys the immunity of a governor is a huge joke on him. A sitting governor who is accusing his two immediate predecessors of armed robbery is only making a mockery of the institution. He is only taking the governorship of our dear state to the gutter.
This is an example of dirty politics taken too far and too low. He ought to know that nobody at the national or state level is buying his claim. He is the butt of a crude joke. Many of those involved in the plot to blackmail me with the Offa robbery case have since faced judgements of the law of karma. I do not doubt that this governor will end up the same way.
“One would have thought that a governor whose state has lost over 400 lives to banditry between January 2025 and March 2026, with over 100 others kidnapped in the worst cases of insecurity since its creation, would concentrate efforts and focus attention on taming the menace by getting the bandits arrested to face justice. No. He is fixated on filing frivolous and politically motivated charges against his predecessors.
This shows the dark mindset of the man who is the governor of Kwara State today. A man who emphasises dirty politics over development and security of life and properties of the citizenry. He started working on this plot immediately after my interview on Channels TV where I flayed his lack of capacity in tackling the security crisis in the state. He thought this case would erase his record as the governor with the worst cases of insecurity under his watch in the state’s history. It is an unenviable record he has sustained by his lack of capacity and ability to tackle serious issues of the state.
“This is a mere act of a desperate politician who is losing control in his party and knows that his days in governance are numbered.
It is the reason Nigerians should always take into consideration the level of education of those we elect into office. For a man who never completed secondary school education, it is difficult for him to appreciate the issues involved in any matter. His level of education is definitely affecting his judgement.
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