Members of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) on Sunday told President Muhammadu Buhari to act like the politician that he is and address Nigerians on the various challenges including insecurity facing the country.
SMBLF national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, said after an expanded meeting of the body in Abuja that “time is moving fast” in Nigeria, demanding that President Buhari commence a national dialogue and declare a national emergency on security to arrest the alarming insecurity int he land.
The meeting had in attendance the leaders of various socio-cultural organizations including Afenifere, for the South West; Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for the South East; Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), for the South-South and the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), for the Middle Belt.
The communique at the end of the meeting resolved as follows:
- Urges the Federal Government to heed the genuine and reasonable nationwide calls for a transparent National Dialogue, and take urgent steps towards restructuring and birthing a new Constitution; to bring back equitable harmony to the Country;
- Insists that it is imperative to immediately restructure the country considering the precarious prevailing atmosphere before any further elections.
- Reminds all leading political parties, especially the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties, that the basis of any viable democracy, especially in a diverse and complex country such as Nigeria, rests in fair and even sharing of power;
- Notes that the Northern part of the Country would have fully enjoyed the Office of the Presidency, for the full statutory period of 8 years by 2023, hence, should yield to the South; Therefore, the Meeting unequivocally and in full resolve, calls on the APC and PDP and other political parties to zone the Presidency, in 2023 to the South; at the next election.
- Enjoins political stakeholders from the South not to be lured into the unpatriotic step of seeking such other positions as National Chairmen and Vice President of the main political parties, but join forces to demand and ensure that the Presidency moves to the South in 2023;
- Calls on the Federal Government to declare a national emergency on security and urgently come up with proactive strategies to restore peace and security to all parts of the country;
- Emphasizes that, if the security situation is not dealt with and banditry stopped or reduced to the barest minimum, it would not be feasible to have proper elections in 2023;
- Condemns the cavalier attitude of the federal government towards the resolutions of the Governors of Southern States at their Meeting, held in Asaba, Delta State on 11th May 2021;as it pertains to ban on open grazing and restructuring.
- Insists that cattle rearing is a generally, private business enterprise, as such, the Federal Government should avoid committing state resources to promote any particular business, beyond providing the enabling environment, in the performance of its regulatory roles;
- Extends condolences to the families of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 other military personnel, who died in the unfortunate military plane crash on 21st May 2021, and calls on the military authorities to carry out a thorough investigation to ascertain the actual cause of the crash;
- Reaffirms its commitment to the unity of Nigeria, but must only be sustained on the principles of Equity, Fairness and Justice.
Earlier, Chief Clark had declared: “The purpose of this meeting is very clear. Where are we going in Nigeria? Some are asking for secession, others for a breakup, others are running a unitary system of government etc.
“Time is moving fast and there is the need to state our position very clear to Nigerians. Mr. President is not an emperor, he is not a king, he is not a monarch, he is a politician. He should come out and meet some of us who were here before even he was an ordinary soldier. This country belongs to all of us, the north alone or the south alone cannot rule this country.”
Clark said, “presently, Nigeria is running a unitary system of government, insisting it is time to restructure.”
According to Clark, “the National Assembly spends N2 billion each time for constitutional review. We want a brand new constitution. Any amendment of the constitution, I have no confidence in it. We are here for two things: Nigeria should be restructured. President Buhari once said if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. I say if we don’t restructure Nigeria will die. Secession is not the answer. Secondly, we want the zoning to continue. It is constitutional…we want the 2023 presidency zoned to the south.”
