A group of former members of the House of Representatives has rejected what it described as a “money-induced endorsement” of President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition by a group operating as: Former Legislators’ Forum.
The group, under the aegis of: “House to the Rescue,” made its position known on Saturday in a statement issued to newsmen.
It said it was “not, and will never be, part of any contrived summit of ex-legislators being hurriedly assembled” to endorse the President.
It said: “This gathering is nothing but a cash-and-carry political carnival — a rented crowd of hand-picked individuals assembled to manufacture artificial legitimacy for a struggling administration.
“This is not consultation.
“This is not patriotism.
“This is not statesmanship.”
They alleged that the endorsement was being sponsored by “desperate government officials within the Presidency,” adding that such officials “arrogantly believe credibility can be bought with envelopes, hotel banquets, and backroom inducements.”
The statement added: “Former legislators are not for sale.
“Our names are not commodities.
“Our legacy is not merchandise.”
The group warned against the use of its members’ names to legitimise the endorsement, saying it was deceptive for “a handful of vulnerable loyalists” to claim to speak for former lawmakers nationwide.
“You cannot assemble a handful of vulnerable loyalists behind closed doors, distribute inducements, and then falsely claim to speak for the conscience of hundreds of former lawmakers across Nigeria.
“That is deception.
“That is manipulation.
“That is democratic fraud.”
House to the Rescue said it stood on “principle,” contrasting its position with what it called a summit that “stands on inducement.”
The statement argued that political endorsements should not replace governance outcomes, stressing: “Endorsements do not govern a nation — performance does.”
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It challenged the administration to show results, listing “security restored, hunger reduced, jobs created, (and) the economy stabilised,” rather than “staged applause” or “rented endorsements.”
The group dissociated itself from the summit, rejecting any endorsement issued in its name, and warned against the unauthorised use of its members’ identities.
“Our integrity is not for sale. Our voices cannot be rented. Nigeria’s democracy will not be auctioned to the highest bidder,” the statement said.
The statement was jointly signed by several former lawmakers, including Hon. Sergious Oguns, Hon. Herman Hembe, Hon. Sam Okwu, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, Hon. Tom Zakari, Hon. Mohammed Soba, Hon. Chika Adamu, Hon. Sadiq Ibrahim, Hon. Tajudeen Ajagbe and Hon. Supo Abiodun.
The statement was also endorsed by Hon. Danlad Donald Olayonu, Hon. Abubakar Amuda Kannike, Hon. Rufus Omiri, Hon. Mayor Eze, Hon. Kamil Akinlabi, Hon. Shaaba Ibrahim, and Hon. Nkwo Nkole.
