Nigerians especially those from the southern and middle belt region of the country have been urged to ensure that they reject presidential candidates from other parts of the country. The call was made by the leadership of the Southern Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) on Thursday, March 10. Leaders from the south and middle belt have called on Nigerians to reject presidential candidates from any other region. ODUDUWA NEWS reports that this was a resolution from its meeting that had delegations from constituent organisations of the SMBLF led by Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere (southwest); Pogu Bitrus, President of the Middle Belt Forum (Middle Belt); George Obiozor, president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo represented by the secretary-general, Okey Emuchay, (southeast); and Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, national chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF (south-south) represented.
The leaders said the call for the 2023 presidency to be zoned to the south should not be taken lightly.
In its communique released at the end of the meeting, the forum declared its total support for a unified Nigeria anchored on the tenets of equity, fairness, justice and principles of true federalism. It further urged the people to reject any political party that fails to flag a candidate from the south. Reject political parties that fail to field southern candidates Further calling on political stakeholders from the region to avoid any comprise, the forum said the worsening security situation in the country needs urgent attention.
The forum also condemned in the strongest terms, the ongoing massacres and decimation of indigenous populations, especially in Zuru, Kebbi state, southern Kaduna, Benue, Plateau and southern Gombe.
In the same vein, it called for the establishment of state police across the different states of the country.