Ex-Senate President Lawan Urges Opposition to Embrace Bipartisanship, Commends President Tinubu’s Reforms

The 14th President of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmad Lawan, has appealed to the opposition to put aside partisan interests and support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This was contained in a statement issued by Ezrel Tabiowo, Media Adviser to Senator Ahmad Lawan, and made available to journalists in Abuja.
Senator Lawan urged critics to acknowledge and commend the government where necessary, stressing that national progress should take precedence over party politics.
He made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the City Boy Movement, Yobe State Chapter, at the National Assembly Complex.
Drawing from his 16-year experience in the opposition, he noted that constructive engagement and support for sound policies must go beyond party lines for the country to advance.
“Even if you don’t believe in what the APC is doing, if you see us doing something for the betterment of Nigeria, please support us and give us the credit.
“Here we are at a very critical point of development as a country; when we are doing the right things, the opposition should be kind enough to support the administration,” he said.
The former Senate President described President Tinubu’s leadership as courageous and determined, urging Nigerians across political divides to support the administration’s efforts to reposition the country.
“This is one leader who has worked so hard for democracy. Today, he heads a government working in a courageous and bold way to reset the situation of Nigeria. Some of the reforms introduced are decisions that not every leader can try to implement because they can make one unpopular. But he introduced them because tomorrow will be better,” he added.
Senator Lawan also highlighted achievements of the Tinubu administration, particularly in the security sector, including the signing of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Bill, the restructuring of the security architecture, and the recent approval of increased allowances for armed forces personnel.
On education, especially in Northern Nigeria, he called on privileged youths to promote basic education, expressing concern over the high number of out-of-school children. He emphasized that investment in education is essential for tackling insecurity.
“Our youth, especially those of you who are privileged, must increase the tempo of our campaign for our children to be in school. Insecurity will be positively affected when you invest in education. We must ensure our youth are enrolled in basic education and retained without parents spending anything,” he said.
He reiterated the need for strict implementation of the UBEC Act 2004, which allocates 2 percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to education, describing it as vital for national development and addressing insecurity.
Senator Lawan also commended Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, for his efforts in the education sector, including the declaration of a state of emergency on education and the establishment of educational institutions. He called for sustained unity among stakeholders in the state.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Dr. Muhammad Yakubu Hassan, briefed the former Senate President on the structure of the City Boy Movement, which includes a State Advisory Council made up of technocrats, business leaders, and political office holders.
He outlined plans for grassroots mobilization, empowerment programmes, and town hall meetings aimed at bringing governance closer to the people.
Dr. Hassan also highlighted upcoming initiatives such as “Education for All” and “Health for All,” alongside community-based projects targeted at addressing basic needs at the ward level.
In his response, Senator Lawan welcomed the delegation and assured them of his support, confirming his readiness to collaborate with the movement. He noted that he is already a patron of the Tinubu House-to-House Network and remains committed to mobilizing support for the success of the administration.