Middle Belt Insists On Atiku As Preferred Candidate

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) on Friday reiterated its support and endorsement of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, for next week’s presidential election.
In a press statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Forum, Dr Isuwa B. Dogo, the MBF dismissed an earlier reaction by Mr. Gowon Egbunu over Atiku’s endorsement by the Forum, alongside other regional groups.
According to the statement, “The attention of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has been drawn to a statement credited to Mr. Gowon Egbunu over a recent unanimous and well publicized endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar by the Middle Belt Forum alongside other prominent regional groups viz Ohaneze Ndigbo, Northern Elders Forum, Northern Consultative Forum, PANDEF and Afenifere.

“The leadership of the MBF wishes to categorically state the followings: That the spokesman of the MBF has been and remains Dr. Isuwa B. Dogo and no any other person and therefore the claim by Mr. Gowon Egbunu to be speaking on behalf of MBF is false.
“The National President of MBF is Dr. Bitrus Pogu who heads the National Working Committee (NWC) of the MBF. It is mischievous to refer to him as chairman of Chibok Union in Abuja. Mr. Gowon Egbunu is not a member of NWC and is not privy to high-level decisions of MBF such the endorsement of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, candidate of PDP in forthcoming presidential election on 16th Feb 2019.
“The participation of Dr. Bitrus Pogu in the Pan- Nigeria Endorsement of the PDP Presidential candidate alongside other prominent regional group leaders is a valid position of the MBF.

“We are calling on all Middle Belters to support the Pan- Nigeria Endorsement of the candidacy of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar at the February 16 presidential poll by massively voting for him to be President.”