The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) has rejected Delta State Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s nomination as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Chief Edwin Clark, of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF); Chief Ayo Adebanjo, of Afenifere; Dr. Dru Bitrus, President-General, Middle Belt Forum; and Prof. George Obiozor, President-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide signed a statement.
“It bears recalling that on May 11, 2021, the 17 governors of Nigeria’s Southern states, both of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), convened in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, under the Chairmanship of Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and made far-reaching decisions, including that, based on the principles of fairness, equity, and justice, the presidency should rotate to the
“That historic meeting was hosted by Governor Okowa himself. The Southern governors met again on July 5, in Lagos, to reaffirm their decision, and on September 16, in Enugu, to reiterate their call for the presidency to rotate to the South in 2023.
“It is inexcusable and disheartening that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the current Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum and a native of Owa-Alero in Delta State’s Ika North-East Local Government Area (one of the Igbo-speaking areas), would display such blatant unreliability.
“It is therefore most unfortunate that Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State, who should have known better, accepted Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s nomination as his running mate.” Ifeanyi Okowa’s action is treacherous and tantamount to a despicable pawning of the political future of the people of Southern Nigeria. We have nothing personal against him.
“Governor Okowa has betrayed the trust that his colleagues, the southern governors, the entire good people of southern Nigeria, and all well-meaning Nigerians, have placed in him.” Not only with the SMBLF, but with all citizens who value our unity and yearn for a more united and peaceful Nigeria, he has made himself a persona non grata.”
