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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Friday, hosted members of the Class of 1999 Governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting brought together former state executives who served at the dawn of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, in what sources described as a closed-door reflection on governance, national unity, and the country’s democratic journey.
Leading the delegation was former Edo State Governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion. Others in attendance included Donald Duke (Cross River), Adeniyi Adebayo (Ekiti), Chief James Ibori (Delta), Jolly Nyame (Taraba), Adamu Mu’azu (Bauchi), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Dr. Peter Odili (Rivers), Joshua Dariye (Plateau), and Boni Haruna (Adamawa), among others.
The session marked a political reunion, 25 years after their emergence as pioneer governors of the Fourth Republic. President Tinubu, who was elected Governor of Lagos State in 1999 under the Alliance for Democracy (AD), is now the first among them to rise to the presidency.
Sources at the Villa described the visit as both a show of solidarity and a strategic conversation on how the group’s shared experience could help guide 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 explained.
The Class of ’99 is credited with playing a key role in Nigeria’s return to civilian rule following years of military dictatorship. Elected across different political platforms, the governors served from 1999 to 2007—a period seen as foundational for modern democratic governance in Nigeria.
Many of them have remained politically active over the years, serving as ministers, party leaders, or lawmakers.
Their reunion at the Villa signals a rekindling of bonds built through shared leadership experience. Insiders say the group used the meeting to express support for Tinubu’s administration and offered to contribute ideas and political backing to initiatives aimed at promoting national unity and strengthening democracy.
“We have a stake in the stability and success of this country,” one 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.”
Friday’s meeting served as a reminder of the value of institutional memory, the strength of peer collaboration in leadership, and the enduring relevance of those who helped shape Nigeria’s democratic transition.
