The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum on Thursday met
in Abuja and declared that political parties that field northern presidential
candidates won’t enjoy their support in the 2023 general elections.
Those at the meeting include delegations from the four
regional socio-cultural organisations: Afenifere (South West), Ohanaeze Ndigbo
(South-East), Pan Niger Delta Forum (South-South) and the Middle Belt Forum
(Middle Belt).
The leaders include Chief Ayo Adebanjo (Afenifere), Prof
George Obiozor (Ohanaeze) Dr. Pogu Bitrus (Middle Belt Forum) and Chief Edwin
Clark (PANDEF).
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed
by the leaders, they agreed on the country’s indissolubility and the need for
restructuring. They also maintained that power must shift to the Southern
region after the eight-year regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu
Buhari (retd.), in May 2023.
The communique partly read, “Arising therefrom, the meeting
resolved as follows:
“That the extant Constitution and Structure of Nigeria are
grossly flawed and lopsided, accordingly, Forum restates its demand for the
fundamental restructuring of the country by enacting a new Constitution that
would enthrone equity, fairness and justice.It must be One Nation, One System;
“Cites that the northern part of the country would have
fully enjoyed the Office of the Presidency of the country for the full
statutory period of 8 years by 2023, hence, the presidency should rotate to the
South;
“Therefore, unequivocally, and in full resolve, call on all
political parties in the country to zone their presidential tickets to the
south;
“Advices that any political party that does not zone its
presidential ticket to the South should not expect support from the four
regions;
“Notes that the basis
of any viable democracy, especially in a diverse and complex country such as
Nigeria, is fair and even sharing of power.”
The Southern and Middle Belt leaders also condemned the
continued senseless killings of innocent citizens across the country by
terrorists and criminals, especially in the North West Zone and called on the
government and security agencies to redouble efforts to safeguard the lives and
property of Nigerians.
They cautioned the National Assembly to only give
consideration to bills that would promote equity, justice, peace and national
cohesion instead of issues that will exacerbate conflicts and crises in the
country.
Several presidential hopefuls have emerged from the Southern
region in the last few days including All Progressives Congress National
Leader, Bola Tinubu; media personality, Dele Momodu; former Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim; Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi;
former Governor of Abia State and Majority Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji
Kalu; former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu,
among others.
A few northerners including ex-Vice-President Atiku
Abubakar; and former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, — both of the
Peoples Democratic Party — have been rumoured to nurse presidential ambitions
but they are yet to publicly declare the intention to run.
Though party primaries that would lead to the emergence of
candidates are expected to hold later in the year, permutations, political
bickering and serial defections continue as the race for who succeeds Buhari
gets intense, while Nigerians wait with bated breath to see who would occupy
the exalted office in Aso Rock in 2023.
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