The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has described President Bola Tinubu as a statesman “who took bold and difficult decisions” to rescue the country from economic collapse.
He urged Nigerians to protect the future of the country by ensuring continuity of the current administration beyond 2027.
The minister, according to a statement shared with Sunday , made the remarks on Saturday at the 2026 National Summit of Former Legislators, themed “National Unity and Nation Building: Beyond 2031,” held in Abuja.
Also speaking at the event, the Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, called on former lawmakers to support President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 to allow him fully implement his reform agenda.
Barau argued that the rotational principle adopted since the return to democracy in 1999 should be respected, noting that it has promoted fairness and political stability.
“President Bola Tinubu is in his first term. We should not reinvent the wheel. The rotational system is working, and he should be allowed to complete two full terms,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo said the country’s economic realities before Tinubu’s inauguration in 2023 demanded courageous leadership, noting that Nigeria spent an estimated $30bn on fuel and foreign exchange subsidies in 2022 alone, while over 92 per cent of national revenue went into debt servicing.
“What lies ahead of us in 2027 is the future of Nigeria, and it is important that we get that point right,” the minister said.
He explained that the country spent about $20bn on fuel subsidy and over $10bn on forex subsidy in 2022, describing the situation as unsustainable and dangerous for the nation’s long-term survival.
The minister noted that Tinubu, upon assuming office, took the “politically risky decision” to remove the subsidies—an action previous administrations avoided even in their second terms.
“This President came on board and took very difficult decisions—decisions that other presidents could not take even in their second term. He took them in his first term, without considering the fact that an election was ahead,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
He added that the President understood the defining moment for leaders is when they choose between short-term political gains and long-term national legacy.
“The turning point of every nation is when leaders decide whether they will live for politics or live for posterity. He understood that leadership is not just about being president, but about being a statesman,” the minister said.
Tunji-Ojo stressed that the reforms were taken not only for the present generation but for Nigerians yet unborn, urging citizens across the 36 states of the federation to appreciate the sacrifices and support the administration’s continuity.
“That is the risk he has taken, and Nigerians must understand this as we look ahead to 2027 and repay that courage by ensuring continuity of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration,” he added.
The summit was organised by the National Forum of Former Legislators, with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, serving as convener.