The leaders of the South East, South West, South-South, and Middle Belt regions on the aegis of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF), rose from a crucial meeting in Abuja on Thursday, October 26, 2023 with a resolve that Nigeria must always remain a country where all citizens and sections enjoy a full sense of belonging and equality.
This was as the SMBLF urged the Federal Government to redouble its efforts to assuage the daily depreciating living standard of Nigerians as well as urgently salvage the Naira, which continues to depreciate daily.
It also called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to release the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu since a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered so, adding that doing so will promote peace and security in the South East.
The leaders of the SMBLF specifically declared that the Federal Capital Territory remains the national patrimony of all Nigerians thus, condemned in very strong terms the present efforts by some to arrogate exclusiveness, stressing that such unacceptable moves must be rejected and the promoters of such views called to order.
The SMBLF represented by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Afenifere, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and the Middle Belt Forum, respectively, also tasked the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, and priority, work towards the restructuring of the country and enthrone true Federalism as was originally entrenched in the 1960 and 1963 constitutions.
The SMBLF insisted that without restructuring, the future of Nigeria and democracy remain bleak and must, therefore, be carried out immediately.
They expresses great concern and total rejection of the trend where certain sections of the country, are continually marginalized in the number of states, local governments, and even appointments into the Federal Executive Council.
The SMBLF particularly requested that the South-East should be appropriately represented on the Federal Executive Council, similar to other Geo-Political Zones.
The SMBLF meeting which was chaired by Chief Edwin K. Clark, had in attendance several national leaders including Chief Ayo Adebanjo – Afenifere, Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu – Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr. Pogu Bitrus – Middle Belt Forum, Chief Cornelius Adebayo – former Governor of Kwara State, Obong Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien – National Chairman, PANDEF.
Others in attendance at the meeting included; General Zamani Lekwot (rtd), former Military Governor of Rivers State, General Lawrence Onoja (rtd) – former Military Governor of Katsina State, Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi – former Chief of Army Staff, Chief Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife – former Governor of Anambra State, Chief S.N. Okeke – former Chairman, Police Service Commission, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu – former Chairman of NDDC, Chief Sola Ebiseni – National Secretary, Afenifere, Amb. Godknows Igali, Amb. Okey Emuchay – Secretary General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange, Senator Musa Adede, Prof. G. G. Darah, Solomon Asemota SAN, D.I.G. Potter L. Dabup (rtd.), Engr. Marcus Gundiri, Akin Oshuntokun, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, Prof Charles Nwakeaku, Dele Farotimi, Prof. Echefuna Onyebeadi, Jonathan Tsaku, Mr. Mac Emakpore, Hon. Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, Prince Maikpobi Okareme, Jonathan Asake, Mrs. Elizabeth Jibrin, Chief Hon. Olivia Agbajoh Esq, Dr. Ken Robinson, among others.
A communique issued at the end of the Forum’s meeting and made available to Forefront News, commended the political class, especially the leading Presidential candidates in the 2023 Presidential Election for their recourse to constitutional means in redressing their grievances, adding that the Supreme Court judgment on the 2023 Presidential Election had effectively brought to an end the legal processes on the conduct and outcome of the Presidential Election, held on 25th February 2023.
The communique further stated; “Insists that President Tinubu takes an urgent look at the 2014 National Conference Report, concluded by 494 of the Country’s leaders, as well as the All Progressives Congress (APC) Report on True Federalism
“The Meeting resolved to set up a Strategic Committee on Restructuring and expressed readiness to interface with the Federal Government, the National Assembly, and all other stakeholders, on the enunciated issues” it stated.
