Former governors from Nigeria’s South-East have praised the region’s current governors for supporting the re-election bid of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the move as a strategic decision aimed at strengthening development and political cooperation in the zone.
The endorsement followed a closed-door meeting held in Enugu, where former leaders of the region gathered to deliberate on regional and national issues. Speaking after the meeting, the former governor of Ebonyi State and current Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced the formation of the South-East Former Governors’ Forum.
Umahi said the newly established forum was created to enable former governors to collaborate with serving governors in addressing issues affecting the South-East and Nigeria at large. He explained that the platform would provide advisory support, promote unity among political leaders, and contribute to development initiatives in the region.
According to a statement issued by Umahi’s spokesperson, Francis Nwaze, the forum is designed to work closely with current governors by offering guidance and support on key matters affecting governance and regional growth.
Umahi stated that the forum would serve as a unifying body for former governors, irrespective of political affiliations, provided they had previously governed any state in the South-East. He emphasized that the initiative is focused on strengthening cooperation and ensuring continuity in leadership experience for the benefit of the region.
During the meeting, the former governors also commended President Tinubu for what they described as ongoing development efforts across the country, particularly in infrastructure projects. They also praised the president for appointing individuals from the South-East into key government positions, noting that such actions contribute to national inclusion and balanced representation.
The former governors further expressed appreciation for the support extended by the president to governors in the region, describing the collaboration between the federal government and South-East leaders as beneficial to development efforts.
Umahi noted that the former governors were united in backing the decision of the current South-East governors to support Tinubu’s re-election. He said the group pledged to continue supporting both the serving governors and the president in efforts aimed at advancing development across the region.
He added that the newly formed forum would continue to engage with serving governors to strengthen cooperation and ensure that regional priorities are effectively addressed. According to him, the experience of former governors would help provide valuable insights into governance and policy direction.
Among those present at the meeting were former governors including Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Sullivan Chime, Martin Elechi, Chris Ngige, and Okezie Ikpeazu.
The formation of the South-East Former Governors’ Forum is seen as a significant political development in the region, bringing together influential leaders with governance experience to provide direction and support for ongoing initiatives.
Observers note that the move could also shape political alignments ahead of future elections, particularly as regional leaders seek to strengthen cooperation and influence policy decisions affecting the South-East.
The forum is expected to hold additional meetings in the coming weeks, with more former governors anticipated to join the platform. The group’s leadership also indicated that continued engagement with serving governors would remain a key focus as they work to promote development, unity, and stability across the South-East region.
