2027: Southern, Middle Belt groups root for southern presidency, back President
Southern and Middle Belt leaders yesterday urged all the political parties in the country to zone their presidential ticket to the South ahead of next year’s general election. They expressed
- From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja
Southern and Middle Belt leaders yesterday urged all the political parties in the country to zone their presidential ticket to the South ahead of next year’s general election.
They expressed their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on state police.
The groups said: “The time for state police is now.”
They made the declaration at the end of their meeting in Abuja.
The groups - Afenifere, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Middle Belt Forum. They spoke under the umbrella body of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum.
The groups insisted on the restructuring of the federation to give the federating ethnic nationalities and constituent states the required autonomy.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting was read by Oba Oladipo Olaitan, the Leader of Afenifere and current chairman of the forum.
Eminent personalities at the briefing included Dr. Bitrus Pogu (President of the Middle Belt Forum), Senator John Azuta-Mbata (President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo World-Wide), and Ambassador Dr. Godknows Igali (Leader of PANDEF).
Giving their take on next year’s general election, Oba Olaitan said the group resolved that political parties should zone the position of the President of the nation to the South in the interest of national political stability.
“SMBLF thus admonished all Political Parties to clearly zone the position of the President of the nation to the South in the interest of national political stability, particularly that such zoning arrangement had been the trend and emerging as part of the national democratic culture since 1999.
“In the above regards, political parties now at their congresses and conventions are advised that their presidential candidates emerge from Southern Nigeria.”
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On insecurity, the group expressed concern over the alarming security situation and therefore called for the creation of state police.
“As a minimum action and NOW the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be amended to ensure state and community Police as now ably canvassed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We must have state Police now. The time for state police is now,” the group said.
The group also said it has set up a 12-member committee to contribute to the constitutional modalities of State and Community Police.
“In the above regards, SMBLF is pleased to let the nation know of a 12-member Committee of Security Experts to make our contributions to the constitutional modalities of State and Community Police,” Oba Olaitan said.
He stressed that “SMBLF as well as Nigerians at large, are alarmed at the renewed, unabated state of insecurity in the nation. SMBLF reiterates our confidence in the Nigerian armed forces and other security institutions and their capacities to protect life, property of Nigerians and her territorial integrity.
“The situation is so worrisome as more than 70 per cent of the national territorial space is ungoverned and unmanned by security personnel.
“It cannot be overemphasised that security thrives on naturally local intelligence. There is no gainsaying the fact that the strength of officers under arm particularly in terms of numbers, is not commensurate with the enormity of the problem.”
The group also urged the government to end the reintegration of deradicalised terrorists.
“As a way of going forward, the SMBLF urges the government to bring to an immediate end the so-called reintegration of deradicalised terrorists.
“SMBLF unapologetically expresses solidarity with the indigenous Nigerian people who are targets of genocidal attacks and urges them to stand up for their collective defence by all means possible.
SMBLF also insisted on the restructuring of the country, saying it has become necessary so as to give the required autonomy.
“SMBLF insists on the restructuring of the Federation to give the federating ethnic nationalities and constituent states the required autonomy in tandem with true federalism on which Nigeria was built by our founding fathers,” it stated.
The group, according to the communique, also called on the Federal Government “ to make redoubled efforts to tackle the suffering of Nigerians in view of the prevailing global economic situation.”
They recommend more focused support for local refineries of crude oil and clear programmes to stop the importation of refined products.
“The SMBLF reiterates its commitment to remaining focused in ensuring that the people of Nigeria continue to show greater interest in the governance and building of the nation,” Oba Olaitan stated.
