Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Forum insists on new constitution before 2023 elections

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), has called for a new constitution and restructuring  of Nigeria amid what it described as the precarious prevailing atmosphere in the country before any further elections.

At a meeting in Abuja on Sunday, the forum also urged 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;

The Meeting, chaired by Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, had, in attendance leaders of various socio-cultural organisations as follows: 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.

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The forum reminded all  the leading political parties in the country, especially the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  that the basis of any viable democracy, especially in a diverse and complex country such as Nigeria, rests on fair and even sharing of power;

It therefore called on the on the APC and PDP and other political parties to zone the Presidency, in 2023 to the South; at the next election.

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According to the forum,  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.

It also enjoined 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.

It also asked 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, noting: “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.”

The forum also condemned what it described as the cavalier attitude of the federal government towards the resolutions of the Governors of Southern States at their Meeting, as it pertains to ban on open grazing and restructuring.

It insisted that cattle rearing is a generally, private business enterprise, as such, the Federal Government should avoid committing state resources to promoting  any particular business, beyond providing the enabling environment, in the performance of its regulatory roles;