News
Southern Middle Belt Leaders Warn Political Parties To Desist Zoning Presidency To The North
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) has warned that any political party that does not zone its 2023 presidency to the south should not expect support from the region.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of its meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
According to the forum, its position is based on the need to engender a fair and even sharing of power in the country.
It pointed out that the northern part of the country would have fully enjoyed the Office of the Presidency of the country for the full statutory period of 8 years by 2023, “hence, the presidency should rotate to the South.”
The communique said the forum “advises that any political party that does not zone its presidential ticket to the South should not expect support from the four regions.
Notes that the basis of any viable democracy, especially in a diverse and complex country such as Nigeria, is fair and even sharing of power.”
The warning came after an extensive discussion of various issues on the state of affairs in the country, particularly, the security situation, Restructuring, preparations for the 2023 General Elections and Zoning.
The forum noted that the extant Constitution and structure of Nigeria are grossly flawed and lopsided, and therefore, restated its demand for the fundamental restructuring of the country by enacting a new Constitution that would enthrone equity, fairness and justice, noting: “It must be One Nation, One System.”
The SMBLF also condemned “the continued senseless killings of innocent citizens across the country by terrorists and criminals, especially in the North West Zone; calls on the government and security agencies to redouble efforts to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians.”
It cautioned the National Assembly to “only give consideration to Bills that would promote equity, justice, peace and national cohesion instead of issues that will exacerbate conflicts and crisis in the country.”
The forum urged state governors and members of the National Assembly of the four regions to commit themselves to the subject of Restructuring.
The forum reaffirmed commitment to the unity of Nigeria, “situated on the tenets of Equity, Fairness, Justice, and the principle of federalism.”
The communique said the meeting was held in an atmosphere of peace and unanimous commitment to the decisions.
According to the communique, in attendance at the meeting were delegations from the four regional socio-cultural organisations, that’s: 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 delegations were led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere, Professor George Obiozor, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Pogu Bitrus, President of the Middle Belt Forum and Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, National Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
The meeting was also attended by former Governors, Ministers, federal and state legislators, top politicians and professionals from the Southern and Middle Belt regions, including His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, Senator Femi Okurounmu, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, Simon N. Okeke, OFR, Chief Supo Shonibare, Dr Akin Fapohunda, Amb. Okey Emuchay, MFR, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Prof. G. G. Darah, Solomon Asemota, SAN, Dr Alex Ogbonna, Mr Mac Emakpore, Chief Douyi Douglas-Naingba, Mrs Nella Andem-Rabana, SAN, Prof. Mrs Chinwe Obaji, Maj. Gen. Henry Ayoola (Rtd), Engr. Ben Akaakar, Dr Ebun Sonaiya, Comrade Jare Ajayi and Ken Robinson, among others.
The communique was signed by the leader of the forum, Chief Edwin Clark; Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Leader, Afenifere; Prof. George Obiozor, President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Dr Pogu Bitrus, National President, Middle Belt Forum.
It pointed out that the northern part of the country would have fully enjoyed the Office of the Presidency of the country for the full statutory period of 8 years by 2023, “hence, the presidency should rotate to the South.”
The communique said the forum “advises that any political party that does not zone its presidential ticket to the South should not expect support from the four regions.
The SMBLF also condemned “the continued senseless killings of innocent citizens across the country by terrorists and criminals, especially in the North West Zone; calls on the government and security agencies to redouble efforts to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians.”
It cautioned the National Assembly to “only give consideration to Bills that would promote equity, justice, peace and national cohesion instead of issues that will exacerbate conflicts and crisis in the country.”
The forum urged state governors and members of the National Assembly of the four regions to commit themselves to the subject of Restructuring.
It reaffirmed commitment to the unity of Nigeria, “situated on the tenets of Equity, Fairness, Justice, and the principle of federalism.”
The communique said the meeting was held in an atmosphere of peace and unanimous commitment to the decisions.
According to the communique, in attendance at the meeting were delegations from the four regional socio-cultural organisations, that’s: 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 delegations were led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere, Professor George Obiozor, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Pogu Bitrus, President of the Middle Belt Forum and Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, National Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
The meeting was also attended by former Governors, Ministers, federal and state legislators, top politicians and professionals from the Southern and Middle Belt regions, including His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, Senator Femi Okurounmu, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, Simon N. Okeke, OFR, Chief Supo Shonibare, Dr Akin Fapohunda, Amb. Okey Emuchay, MFR, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Prof. G. G. Darah, Solomon Asemota, SAN, Dr Alex Ogbonna, Mr Mac Emakpore, Chief Douyi Douglas-Naingba, Mrs Nella Andem-Rabana, SAN, Prof. Mrs Chinwe Obaji, Maj. Gen. Henry Ayoola (Rtd), Engr. Ben Akaakar, Dr Ebun Sonaiya, Comrade Jare Ajayi and Ken Robinson, among others.
The communique was signed by the leader of the forum, Chief Edwin Clark; Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Leader, Afenifere; Prof. George Obiozor, President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Dr Pogu Bitrus, National President, Middle Belt Forum.
Shonekan: Nigeria’s Leader Overthrown Without Resistance
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…middle belt leaders insist middle belt leaders insist
News
No Explosion at PHRC, NNPC Clarifies
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has refuted reports of an explosion at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) in Rivers State. The company clarified that what occurred was a flare incident, which has since been fully contained.
There is no danger or health hazard to staff, the surrounding communities, or the environment.
NNPC Ltd. urges the media and the public to disregard any reports suggesting an explosion at the refinery, as they are entirely false.
*Olufemi O. Soneye*
Chief Corporate Communications Officer
NNPC Ltd.
Abuja
19th March, 2025
News
News Analysis: Emergency Rule on Return to Democracy
By Abbas Yushau Yusuf
When Nigeria returned to democracy on May 29, 1999, General Olusegun Obasanjo was the first beneficiary of the country’s return to civilian rule. A four-star general who had handed over power to President Shehu Shagari on October 1, 1979, twenty years later, destiny beckoned on Obasanjo, and he took charge again as Nigeria’s President.
But before General Obasanjo’s return in 1999, Nigeria, especially the northern part of the country, experienced serious religious upheavals and uprisings, starting from the Maitatsine riots of 1980 in Kano and the Zangon Kataf religious crisis of 1987 in Kaduna State, in which former Governor of Rivers State, General Zamani Lekwot, was the mastermind.
Then another religious crisis engulfed the city of Kano over the visit of a Christian monk in 1991, Reverend Rent Harnboky. The people of Kano resisted the visit because earlier, a renowned Islamic scholar of comparative religion, Sheikh Ahmad Deedat, intended to visit the state. He was denied, and when that of Rent Harnboky was approved, it turned into serious attacks on non-Muslims in the state.
It took the military Governor of Kano state retired Major General Idris Garba to deploy soldiers in Mosques and churches across the city.
Another deadly religious riot that shook northern Nigeria again was the 2000 religious Shariah crisis in Kaduna when former Governor Ahmad Makarfi intended to introduce Shariah in the state. An unaccounted number of people were killed during the Obasanjo regime. Another killing took place in Lagos by the Odua People’s Congress during the time of Governor Bola Ahmad Tinubu, now President Tinubu, in the year 2000.
In 2001, the once peaceful northern city of Jos, Plateau State, was rocked with a serious crisis of unprecedented proportion in which many Muslims and Christians were killed.
During the second term of President Olusegun Obasanjo, a local government in the depths of Plateau State, Yelwa Shendam, was thrown into religious conflict during the time of Governor Joshua Chibi Dariye, where Muslims were killed in unprecedented proportions.
On May 11,2004 , the Yelwa Shendam crisis spilled over to Kano, where reprisal attacks took center stage, in which many Christians were killed.
On Tuesday, May 18, 2004, President Olusegun Obasanjo addressed the nation, in which he declared a state of emergency in Plateau State and removed democratic structures in the state.
President Obasanjo accused Governor Joshua Chibi Dariye of aiding the Plateau crisis. He appointed General Chris Alli as the administrator of the state for six months, where it ended on November 18, 2004.
Analysts say the removal of Governor Dariye by President Obasanjo was because the crises were threatening the whole country, hence his decision to take decisive action.
In his address, Chief Obasanjo said the crisis had already reverberated to Kano and was now threatening the FCT and some parts of Katsina State. While his state was boiling, Governor Joshua Dariye was somewhere in Abuja attending the National Sports Festival.
Another political crisis in 2006 engulfed Ekiti State, where President Obasanjo suspended democratic structures, including Governor Ayodele Fayose, and appointed an administrator.
Obasanjo’s state of emergency differs from that of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who declared a state of emergency in three northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe in 2013 as a result of the Boko Haram crisis that turned the states into a killing field.
Governors Murtala Nyako, Kashim Shettima (now Vice President), and Governor Ibrahim Gaidam were not affected, as President Jonathan did not suspend the democratic structures, only massively deployed the military.
Jonathan’s approach, analysts say, is more in tandem with Nigeria’s constitution than Obasanjo’s. Now, President Tinubu’s declaration in Rivers State, where Governor Fubara and the state assembly were suspended on March 18, 2025, through a presidential broadcast, has sparked debate.
Some lawyers flayed President Tinubu’s declaration as autocratic and partisan because the Minister of the FCT is being accused of fueling the Rivers crisis due to the lack of influence he has over his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Many international human rights associations did not back President Tinubu’s declaration in Rivers State because they see it as more political than aimed at returning peace to the oil-rich state.
Of the four Presidents Nigeria has had from 1999 to date, only the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and President Muhammadu Buhari did not declare a state of emergency in crisis states like Zamfara, Borno, and Yobe during the term of President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, when banditry took a serious toll on the lives of many.
News
Fubara’s Whereabouts Unknown As Military Moves Trucks Into Rivers Govt House
The movement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara was unknown on Tuesday night when the military moved trucks into Rivers Government House in Port Harcourt.
The trucks were placed within and outside the Government House on the first night of the State of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu declared emergency rule amid the attacks on oil installations in Rivers State.
Some militants groups had threatened to blow up pipelines if the Rivers House of Assembly impeach Fubara.
However, hours after the lawmakers served the governor with notice of alleged misconduct, the militants carried out their threat.
No Explosion at PHRC, NNPC Clarifies
News Analysis: Emergency Rule on Return to Democracy
Fubara’s Whereabouts Unknown As Military Moves Trucks Into Rivers Govt House
Breaking :President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers state,Removes Democratic Structures
Tinubu meets with service chiefs in Aso Rock
No Explosion at PHRC, NNPC Clarifies
News Analysis: Emergency Rule on Return to Democracy
Fubara’s Whereabouts Unknown As Military Moves Trucks Into Rivers Govt House
Breaking :President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers state,Removes Democratic Structures
Tinubu meets with service chiefs in Aso Rock
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