2023: Southern Middle Belt Leaders React To Atiku’s Win, Send Strong Warning To Politicians

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) has reacted to the emergence of former vice president Atiku Abubakar as the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election.

In a letter jointly signed by Bassey Ewa-Henshaw (PANDEF/South South), Okey Emuchay (Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide/South East), Jare Ajayi (Afenifere/South West), Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt Forum), leaders of groups that make up the forum, and Ken Robinson, acting coordinator of SMBLF, the group condemned PDP for electing a Northern Candidate.

They maintained that such a move was an insult to the south and urged Nigerians to desist from voting for the former VP in the upcoming 2023 presidential election.

They subsequently asked other presidential candidates in the South to shun the attitude of individualism and self-confidence, and work collectively to achieve the shared objective of producing President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor in the forthcoming elections.

The communique read in part: “Sadly, it appears the unity and peace of Nigeria mean little or nothing to a segment of the nation’s political elite.

“This was evidenced in the PDP special convention, which was held on Saturday, May 28, 2022, where certain candidates from the North were pressured, coerced, and even intimidated to step down for former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, who eventually emerged as the flag bearer of PDP, in utter derision of the established principle of zoning and rotation of power between the North and South.

“Undoubtedly, the singular motive is to perpetuate the hegemony of the North given that President Buhari, a Muslim from the North and of Fulani origin will be completing his full tenure of eight years by this time next year.

“SMBLF, therefore, totally rejects the candidacy of Atiku of the PDP and calls on our people of southern Nigeria and the Middle Belt as well as all true lovers of peace and unity not to vote for him or any other northerner in the 2023 presidential election, in the interest of posterity.

“SMBLF further urges all aspirants for the office of president from southern Nigeria to shun the conceited attitude of individualism and self-confidence, and work collectively to achieve the shared objectives.

“Again, SMBLF calls on all politicians of southern extraction to refuse the position of a running mate to any northern presidential candidate, which will equally be viewed as subjugating their people to political slavery.”