The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has restated its position that the Presidency must remain in the Southern region in 2027.
The group also applauded the renewed efforts and successes of the Armed Forces in tackling insecurity in the land.
SMBLF stated this in a communique it issued at the end of its regular general meeting yesterday in Abuja
The meeting, according to the communique, was attended by four delegates each from the various organisations that constitute the group: Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
Some prominent leaders of the group include Obong Victor Attah, Ezekwesi Nwodo, Goodknows Igali, and Bitrus Pogu.
Reading the communique, Chairman of the forum and leader of Afenifere, Oladipo Olaitan, said the meeting discussed issues of particular concern to the Nigerian nation and resolved to stand by its earlier stand that the Presidency should remain in the southern part of the country in 2027.
Announcing the forum’s stand on next year’s general election, Olaitan said: ‘SMBLF reiterates its earlier resolution that the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall remain in the southern region in the next four years consequent on the 2027 general election in the interest of national political stability.’
The group decried what it called a lack of internal democracy during the party primaries.
‘The essence of democracy is free choice by the people. The situation of one person or an oligarchy of a few choosing candidates in a political system that excludes independent candidates is antithetical to democracy and national development,’ he argued.
Notwithstanding, the forum’s chairman was upbeat about the future of the country.
He said: ‘Nigeria shall remain a thriving multi-party constitutional democracy, which also allows for independent candidacy.’
Focusing on the security situation in the country, Olaitan said: ‘SMBLF recognises and appreciates the renewed efforts and successes of the Armed Forces on the state of security, particularly in Oyo, Zamfara, and Borno states. It urges renewed momentum in the Middle Belt, particularly Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Kwara, and Kogi states.’
SMBLF also urged the Federal Government ‘to intensify actions including collaboration with our neighbours and the international community’.
The forum said it welcomed ‘State Police, of which we have been the advocate of the years but we insist that State Police should reflect true federalism and not a Federal State Police. To that end, state governors shall have the same power to appoint or remove a Commissioner of Police as the President in relation to the Inspector-General of Police’.
The group also urged the Judiciary to remain ‘truly independent and ever alert to its constitutional roles of interpreting the constitution and the laws in the interest of peace, stability and progress of the nation and its democracy’.
It equally urged the press to ‘remain ever vigilant as the Fourth Estate of the realm in line with its acknowledged historic roles in the struggle for Nigerian independence and as a veritable defender of her democracy’.
Commenting on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the SMBLF said: ‘The burden of proof of fair, free and credible elections should henceforth be borne by the Independent National Electoral Commission.’
SMBLF also insisted on the need for the country to restructure, calling for a ‘new Constitution that reflects True Federalism and shall mobilise the people to vote for a presidential candidate that will give the people of Nigeria a new Constitution.’