2019 Poll: Southern, Middle Belt unite for common agenda

By Olayinka Adewumi


Peoples from the South and Middle Belt have resolved to work together to ensure the restructuring of the country for peace and liberty.

The group also pledged a united front to pick a common Presidential candidate come 2019. This is the most visible road to a greater Nigeria, the coalition representing the interests of people from four geo political zones in Nigeria has said.

The movement, Southern Nigeria and Middle Belt Forum for Development, (SNMFD) after its National Conference held in Lagos said the people from the two critical sections of the country have shared history, fears and aspirations urging them to unite behind a Presidential candidate. It said the unity is necessary to forge harmony with other ethnic groups and social groupings in the country.

It said the best way to tackle the challenge of exclusion suffered by the people was for them to unite and present a common position in the forthcoming Presidential poll.

In a communiqué signed by the group’s President, Mr Sidney Imohbio, it said people from Southern Nigeria and Middle Belt zone are anxious to see the restructuring of the country in the shortest time possible. It regretted that inspite of the democratic experience of the country, human lives continue to lay in waste while hope for a renaissance continue to diminish. It said in the past four years, no fewer than 10,000 lives have been lost to conflict and violence in the country, saying that the unity of the South and Middle belt was imperative for the overall goal of a united, strong and flourishing Nigeria.

“Only a political system that considers the urgent need for restructuring will be useful to the people of Southern Nigeria and the Middle Belt. We have to work together. Though we are non-partisan, we consider the electoral field as critical to the realization of the dream of SNMBF to see to the restructuring of Nigeria.

Sidney said restructuring was the surest way to peace, stability and prosperity in Nigeria. “We shall work day and night to ensure the best candidate emerges in 2019 that will uplift Nigeria by addressing the garrison structure of the country which stifles development and creativity.”

SNMBFD was established about two years ago to promote the interests of Southern Nigeria and the Middle belt. It has already established structures in 24 states of the Federation.

The group said Nigeria is afflicted with the twin problem of corruption and inept leadership saying this find their roots in the structure of the country which undermines self-actualization. Several people from across the country attended the meeting held in Lagos. The group in the past had held several regional meetings with massive turnouts.

The group stated “The past years have been traumatic for the people of Southern Nigeria and the Middle Belt. There have been horrendous hate killings motivated either by faith, economic or ethnic considerations. The problems have been compounded in the past four years. The quickest political solution is for the South and Middle Belt to unite and present a common front.”

According to the group, various political interests that have governed the country have failed to address the fundamental problems confronting the country adding that the campaign for sanity in Nigeria will be enriched by forging a united Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria front.