The Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has described President Bola Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy as an act of “extraordinary statesmanship,” and not that of a politician thinking about next election.

Gbajabiamila emphasized that President Tinubu had made it clear from day one that his administration would not shy away from tackling the most difficult reforms.

He said this at the 2025 Southern Summit of former legislators held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The summit, themed “National Unity: Bedrock of Nation Building”, brought together notable figures and former lawmakers including former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former House Speakers, Yakubu Dogara, and Patricia Olubunmi Etteh.

The event also attracted the National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Ajibola Bashiru, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide.

In his remarks, Gbajabiamila, who’s the convener of the summit, said the removal of fuel subsidy, tax reforms and other policies were bold moves made by Tinubu in the interest of Nigeria’s long-term stability.

Gbajabiamila pointed to the administration’s initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which guarantees tertiary education for every Nigerian child, as another indicator of Tinubu’s commitment to future generations.

He also referenced the signing into law of the new tax reforms, describing them as a turning point in Nigeria’s pursuit of economic justice.

“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.

“Every Nigerian child today is guaranteed a tertiary education courtesy of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) With the signing into law of the tax reforms, President Bola Tinubu has ushered in a new era of economic justice, built on fairness, accountability, and national purpose.

“These are not the actions of a politician thinking about the next election. They are acts of extraordinary statesmanship by a leader whose highest concern is the fortune of the Nigerian people and the fate of the next generation,” he said.

While acknowledging that the reforms come with temporary hardship, Gbajabiamila urged Nigerians to be patient.

“Fixing what has long been broken imposes costs, entails sacrifice and takes time,” he said.

The Chief of Staff said those who do not share the administration’s vision for national prosperity will have Nigerians believe that the last two years of the administration have been a catalogue of hardship and failed promises.

“Unfortunately for them, the data tells a different story,” he said.

He called for a concerted efforts among former lawmakers at promoting the national unity and cohesion.

Dogara told Nigerians not to allow allow “pretenders” cause them to focus on the trivial and miss the significant.

“These pretenders are not about patriotism, they are about vengeance, distraction and power. We are beginning to witness the slow rupturing of their cult; a structure built on mendacity, fury and spectacle,” he said.

He also asked his colleagues rise with an “undying resolve to build a nation that stands not just on maps, but as a testament to the world of what unity in diversity can truly accomplish.”

The Northern Caucus of the forum led by Rufai Chanchagi, reiterated its resolve to back the South in the next election, insisting that the region should be allowed to complete eight years in the presidency in the spirit of fairness and equity.

In his remarks, Governor Dapo Abiodun, described members of the forum them as true custodian of the nation’s democratic journey.

He also declared that the South and President Tinubu must be allowed to complete two term in the presidency.

In the communique issued after the summit, the forum adopted Tinubu as the Sole Candidate of the South in the 2027 presidential election.

The communique which read by Samson Osagie, former House of Representatives member from Edo State, was adopted after the Chairman, Senator Ken Nnamani, put to the question to the participants.

It reads “We commend the patriotic courage of our Colleagues of the Northern Caucus in calling for the South to complete their tenure of the Leadership of the Country.

“We affirm that it is turn of the South to complete its tenure.

“We posit that it is in the best interest of the South and Nation that the incumbent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu completes the tenure of the South.

“Accordingly, we adopt him as the Sole Candidate of the South.

“We call on the South to Support the North in 2031 to take up their tenure for the Leadership of our dear Country.

“We call on all Nigerians to pursue this Course to promote National Unity and firm the foundation of Nation Building.”