Leaders of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) have rejected the emergence of one-time Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, as the flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election. THE WILL reports.

In a communiqué 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 made up the forum, and Ken Robinson, acting coordinator of SMBLF, faulted the PDP for electing a northern presidential candidate.

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They described the outcome of the exercise as “an affront” to the people of the South and asked politicians in the region to reject any nomination for the office of the vice president.

The communiqué 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”. Information Guide Nigeria

“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”. jamb results

“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.”

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