Sat. Aug 30th, 2025

Class of 1999 ex-Governors Reunite With President Tinubu, Push for National Progress

Class of 1999 ex-Governors Reunite With President Tinubu, Push for National Progress

By Dele Fashomi 1 month ago

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hosted a delegation of former governors from the historic “Class of 1999” at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday, July 25, 2025.

The group, instrumental in ushering Nigeria into its Fourth Republic, was led by former Delta State Governor James Ibori.

The gathering doubled as a reunion and a demonstration of solidarity for President Tinubu, himself a member of the group having governed Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.

The former governors lauded his leadership and engaged in discussions centered on fostering national unity and forward-looking development strategies.

They particularly praised Tinubu for appointing their peer, George Akume, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation and pledged their backing for his administration’s nation-building initiatives.

Behind closed doors, key issues took center stage, including enhancing security, addressing energy shortages, and promoting bipartisan collaboration in the national interest.

Former Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion, the group’s chairman, stressed the need to transcend political differences and prioritize the collective “Project Nigeria.”

President Tinubu called on serving and former governors to recommit to uplifting Nigerians’ welfare, acknowledging public frustrations while vowing to drive policies that deliver tangible improvements.

The meeting highlighted the enduring legacy of the Class of 1999, whose influence continues to shape Nigeria’s political trajectory over two decades after their historic tenure began.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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