Only Parties Which Zone Presidency To South Will Get Support – Southern And Middle Belt Forum

By Uche Mbah

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF), a joint forum comprising leaders of South east, South South, South-West, and North  Central, rose from a joint meeting to declare that political parties in the country must, as a matter of urgency, zone its Presidential ticket to the South, or no dice.

North Central states are generally regarded as the middle belt region.

In a communiqué issued after a meeting Thursday in Abuja, the group said the North must have completed eight years of rulership at the end of the Buhari administration, and, therefore, must allow power to rotate to the South.

Signatories to the communiqué are Edwin Clark, an Ijaw national leader; Ayo Adebanjo, Afenifere leader, George Obiozor, President-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and Pogu Bitrus, National President, Middle Belt Forum.

“The meeting extensively discussed various issues on the state of affairs in the country, particularly, the security situation, restructuring, preparations for the 2023 elections and zoning.”

The communiqué reads.

“That the extant Constitution and Structure of Nigeria are grossly flawed and lopsided. Accordingly, Forum restates its demand for the fundamental restructuring of the country by enacting a new Constitution that would enthrone equity, fairness and justice. It must be One Nation, One System.”

The communiqué also “Cites that the northern part of the country would have fully enjoyed the Office of the Presidency of the country for the full statutory period of 8 years by 2023, hence, the presidency should rotate to the South; Therefore, unequivocally, and  in full resolve, call on all political parties in the Country to zone their Presidential tickets to the South.

“Advices that any political party that does not zone its Presidential ticket to the South should not expect support from the four regions;

“Notes that the basis of any viable democracy, especially in a diverse and complex country such as Nigeria, is fair and even sharing of power.”

The forum also condemned in stronv terms the “senseless killings of innocent citizens” across the country, particularly in the north-west.

According to the forum, the National Assembly and Governors should commit themselves to restructuring and Nigeria’s unity “situated on the tenets of equity, fairness, justice, and the principle of federalism”.