The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum, (SMBLF), has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari, the Northern governors and political leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for their support for the rotation of the presidency to the South in 2023.
The Forum, made up of the Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, pan-Niger Delta Forum and Middle-Belt Forum, however, strongly urged Nigerians to vote only for presidential candidates from the south.
This was emphasised in a joint statement signed and issued on Sunday by Chief (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Dr. Pogu Bitrus and Ambassador (Prof.) George Obiozor of PANDEF, Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum and Ohaneze Ndigbo respectively.
The statement read in part: “The decision of the APC Northern leaders to back the emergence of a presidential candidate of the party from the Southern part of the country is a remarkable development and fetches huge relief to well-meaning Nigerians, from the needless political theatrics.
“We totally endorse the conclusions of the APC governors and political leaders from the Northern states of Nigeria, after their meeting yesterday; that after eight years of the northern presidency under President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 elections should come from the southern states of Nigeria, ‘in the interest of building a stronger, more united and more progressive country. This is in tandem with our long-held position on the rotation of the presidency and deserves commendation.
“Just when the nation’s future and political fortunes were looking dimmest, with all sorts of appalling shenanigans, the President and the Northern APC Governors, have provided a glimmer of hope; indicating that some of our politicians still cherish the ‘oneness’ of Nigeria beyond parochial, political reparations. And, despite certain reservations, this decision has occasioned a level of optimism that perhaps all hope is not yet lost for the country.
