President Bola Tinubu yesterday said he is not thinking or bothered about the outcome of the 2027 general election, but rather concerned about how to reposition and boost the economic prosperity of the country to a level that the next generation of Nigerians will be proud of.
Tinubu stated this during the All Progressives Congress (APC) South-West Zonal Assembly held in Lagos.
The event hosted by the chairman, South West Governors' Forum and Lagos governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had other state governors including Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State in attendance.
Leaders at the meeting included ex-interim national chairman, Bisi Akande; ex-Ogun governors, Olusegun Osoba and Ibikunle Amosun, Lagos GAC leader, Tajudeen Olusi, among others.
The event also attracted other stakeholders in the Southwest including senators, representatives, state house of assembly members and top officials.
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The president who was represented by his chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, explained that he is also pained due to the hardship but assured that things would turn out better.
"Mr President has asked me to tell you that he is not thinking of the next election but the next generation. He has asked me to convey his message, that he knows he has taken a very tough decision. He sees the light at the end of the tunnel. The time will come when we will all thank him for the decision.
"For every moment in a country, a particular leader is produced for that time. This is the time to produce a leader that is courageous."
He promised that all deliberations by the Southwest caucus will be given consideration, saying even though he is president of Nigeria, the Southwest remains his base.
"The challenges of our country are diverse; it is very immense. You cannot know the extent until you get there; I see that Mr President has nothing in his mind but the progress of Nigeria.
"For those of us that know him very well, he has a love for the masses. As the people are complaining, he is also pained but when a man has a strong conviction of what he is doing, he pursues it."
On his part, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said, "We have come as one big family to explore and have more ways to work together. It is to share ideas and agree on strategies to take Southwest to greater heights.
"We are blessed with assets and more positioned to move the country forward."
He added that the gathering is to reinvigorate hope in people, saying the strong omoluabi ethos in the zone should be engendered for the progress of the region and the country.
The governor appealed to the leaders and other members to give adequate support to the president, saying "we should strive to forge ahead of the 2027 election."
The Senate majority leader and leader of the Southwest Caucus at the National Assembly, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele said the South West APC Caucus in the 10th Assembly is very strategic and concerned about the development of the region.
He said, "Since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on June 13, 2023, the Southwest Caucus has been a formidable force, contributing significantly to the progress of our legislative duties. Out of the 18 senators from the Southwest, 15 are from the APC, making our zone the largest single bloc of APC senators in the Senate.
"This has given us considerable influence, and we have used it effectively for the good of our people. First, we aligned ourselves with the party's leadership, ensuring that the leadership structure of the Senate and House of Representatives was in line with the dictates of our great party.
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"Moreover, we have stood firmly with the leadership of the National Assembly, especially when plots were being hatched to bring the leadership to disrepute. We remained united behind the senate president, Godswill Akpabio, and his deputy, Jubrin Barau, even when there were unfounded allegations of budget padding. The Southwest Caucus remains a stabilising force in the Senate.
The keynote speaker and the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi said, "We in the South West zone should set an example by ensuring that the caucus is replicated at the national Assembly to the state and local government levels.
"We cannot continue to rest on our oars as a party. We should be ready to forge a united front. I am convinced that APC will remain strong to accomplish the unfinished business of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President."
