President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, hosted members of the Class of 1999 Governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as former state executives who served at the dawn of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic reunited to engage in what sources described as a closed-door reflection on governance, national unity, and Nigeria’s democratic journey.
The delegation was led by the former Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, and included prominent figures such as Chief James Ibori (Delta), Jolly Nyame (Taraba), Adamu Mu’azu (Bauchi), Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Boni Haruna (Adamawa), Donald Duke (Cross River), Adeniyi Adebayo (Ekiti), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), and Dr. Peter Odili (Rivers), among others.
Although the meeting was held behind closed doors, sources at the Villa revealed that it provided a moment of political camaraderie and reflection, 25 years after their collective emergence as pioneer governors in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
President Tinubu himself was part of the same class, having been elected Governor of Lagos State in 1999 under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He is now the first among them to ascend to the nation’s highest office.
The visit, according to those familiar with the discussions, was not only a show of solidarity with President Tinubu but also an opportunity to discuss how the collective experience and institutional memory of the Class of ’99 can be harnessed to support national development.
“This visit is symbolic. It shows that leadership transcends time and political affiliations. They are here not just to reconnect but to offer counsel to one of their own who now bears the burden of national leadership,” one source said.
The Class of ’99 is widely considered to have played a foundational role in Nigeria’s return to democratic rule following years of military dictatorship.
The governors, elected under various political platforms, served between 1999 and 2007—a politically formative era that laid the groundwork for democratic institutions and state-level governance.
Since leaving office, many of the former governors have remained active in national politics, with some serving as ministers, party leaders, and lawmakers.
Their reunion at the Villa underscores a rekindling of ties built over decades of shared governance experience.
Insiders suggest that the delegation used the meeting to pledge their support for President Tinubu’s administration and to assure him of their readiness to contribute ideas, offer advice, and rally political support for initiatives aimed at strengthening national unity and sustaining democratic progress.
“We have a stake in the stability and success of this country,” another former governor reportedly said.
“President Tinubu is one of us, and we are committed to standing by him as he leads Nigeria through this crucial phase.”
As the political class and the public continue to debate the best ways to consolidate democracy, Friday’s meeting was a reminder of the relevance of institutional memory, the importance of peer collaboration in leadership, and the enduring bonds forged in times of transition.
