June 17, 2022

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) has berated the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for accepting his nomination as Vice Presidential Candidate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.[

In a statement collectively signed by Chief (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, CON, Leader SMBLF/PANDEF, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Leader, Afenifere, Pogu Bitrus, President-General, Middle Belt Forum, Ambassador (Prof.) George Obiozor and President-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Okowa was accused of lampooned for accepting the Vice Presidential ticket.

Below is the full statement:

“It is unspeakable and quite disappointing that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is currently Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, and a native of Owa-Alero in Ika North-East Local Government Area (one of the Igbo-speaking areas) of Delta State, would exhibit such barefaced unreliability.

“It bears recalling that the 17 Governors of the Southern States of Nigeria, both of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the Chairmanship of the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, met in Asaba, the capital of Delta State on May 11, 2021, and took far-reaching decisions, including that, based on the principles of fairness, equity and justice, the presidency should rotate to the south, at the end of the statutory eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure. And this very Governor Okowa was the host of that historic meeting.

“The Southern Governors later met again in Lagos, on July 5, where they reaffirmed their decision, and again in Enugu, on September 16, to restate the call that the presidency should rotate to the south in 2023.

“It is essential to underline that the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF), applauded the meeting of the governors, given its significant representation and the gravity of the outcome; we followed up and issued a similar statement after our meeting in Abuja on the 30th of May 2021, asking that the presidency should rotate to the south. And went further, on several other occasions, to caution political stakeholders from the South, including serving and former governors, ministers, senators, etcetera, not to, on any account, allow themselves to be appointed or nominated as running mate to any presidential candidate, if the presidency is not zoned to the south and that we will work against such person or persons.

“It is, therefore, most unfortunate that the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa who should know better, accepted his appointment as running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. We do not have anything personal against Ifeanyi Okowo but his action is treacherous and tantamount to a despicable pawning of the political future of the people of Southern Nigeria.

“It is regrettable that while most of Governor Okowa’s southern and northern counterparts have maintained gallant, patriotic deference to the unity and peace of the country, above blinkered political considerations, by their resolute stance on the rotation of the presidency to the south in 2023, Governor Ifeanyi Okiwa, the Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, of all people, would gullibly and slavishly capitulated to the bonbon of absurdity. Thus, acceding to a situation whereby, one person rules for eight years and hands over to another of his stock, in a country of at least 360 ethnic groups. What a shame!

“The people of southern Nigeria chimed at Asaba, Lagos, Enugu, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Umuahia, and Abuja, continuously on the zoning of the presidency and that another northern presidency after the eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari would be injurious to the unity and peace of the country.

“Governor Okowa has, by his action, betrayed the trust reposed on him by his colleagues; the southern governors, the entire good people of southern Nigeria and all well-meaning Nigerians. He has made himself persona non grata, not only, with SMBLF but all citizens who treasure our oneness and hopes of a more united and peaceful Nigeria.

“We, therefore, reject Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his Vice Presidency, and leave him to his lot, but let the world know that this is a betrayal of the highest order.

“And that this is not a matter of loyalty to one’s political party, but rather a greedy, parochial and unpatriotic action, committed against the general interest of his State, Delta state, the Niger Delta region, and Southern Nigeria. It is, certainly, also not in the interest of the nation at large.

“We commend the patriotism of all Nigerians who cherish our unity and progress as a country and further urge all such Nigerians; in the North and the South; young and mature, the high and mighty; irrespective of religion and tribe, to remain steadfast on the centrality of the presidency to rotating to the South in 2023, in the national interest.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/06/okowa-betrayed-the-trust-reposed-on-him-southern-middle-belt-leaders-tackle-delta-gov/

Season of Lamentation

They are never united but they want people from outside dere region to do dia wish by bullying dem.

Ahap

The earlier the south realises that APC as a party does not have the interest of southern Nigeria at heart the better. Let us be OBIdient and vote them out. Those that are mentioning my comment don't really know how politically wise and smart the northern politicians are. The North cannot vote for APC due to the fact that a southerner emerged as its flagbearer. The northern politicians have started to align themselves with ATIKU. Why did a northern APC senator decamp to PDP immediately after their presidential primaries? Why did APC delay its presidential primary ?

He's a traitor of the season!

There's no friendship in Nigeria's political System. All man for himself. Even Atiku's pet boy decided to run on his own same as Osibanjo.
Most of una go do the same.
Reply me rubbish and you will collect your size.

Who are they

Who named them leaders?

Bunch of old men will just come together and call themselves leaders

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So who they want to be his vice?

Someone from north too?

We buy Human toes for $40,000. is this REAL?






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrLlJa81VYk

Betrayals!!!....y is it that we Southerners can't even play dis politics without feeling betrayed?......Senate president Lawan quietly got his mandidate back even when he didn't participate n we r not hearing so much noise about it....

obinnajohnson:
The earlier the south realises that APC as a party does not have the interest of southern Nigeria at heart the better. Let us be OBIdient and vote them out.

How APC take enter PDP news in the OP?

All man for himself, naxo naija matter be.

Lol. This head of this committee is only wailing cos he wasnt the one who got nod from Atiku.

Stewpid politicians when it doesn't go their way they'll turn to the community and start soliciting camaraderie.

When it goes their way it's on to looting with no regard for anybody.

Why him again

OBI IS COMING

Hmm

Okowa has always been a betrayal way back.

He even mostly betrays himself. He betrayed himself as a Governor. Denied Deltan`s good governance and became a redundant furniture in government house.

With huge allocation and average IGR, Okowa failed in all aspect of governance!

DJ Cuppy`s dogs would have performed better if opportune to be in such position.

I think VP has little or no influence.
If a so called Prof can be ridden by a NEPA bill holder, then that position is like office of the wife's governor in a state. Unless na God wan do em thing em way. If u know u know

obinnajohnson:
The earlier the south realises that APC as a party does not have the interest of southern Nigeria at heart the better. Let us be OBIdient and vote them out.

The Op is talking about PDP and not APC.

APC fulfilled it's obligation to the South by Fielding Tinubu while PDP went the way of the North.

Between both parties which one hates Nigerian interest?

1gbofam:


The Op is talking about PDP and not APC.

APC fulfilled it's obligation to the South by Fielding Tinubu while PDP went the way of the North.

Between both parties which one hates Nigerian interest?

Ahmed Sanni, Yahaya Bello and Ahmed Lawan of APC are all Northeners and they participated in the primaries. It was an open contest not a consensus. Same thing happened in PDP which Atiku won soundly.

Don't say APC fulfilled its obligation.

obinnajohnson:
The earlier the south realises that APC as a party does not have the interest of southern Nigeria at heart the better. Let us be OBIdient and vote them out.

The south south ,know what restructuring will do for them.they will not allow this chance to pass them.dont divide the votes.fiscal federalism is the key .

That one no concern me.

I just want to remind you all that Peter Obi cannot and will not win the 2023 presidential election

Cry me a river.
.
.
Politics is game of interest.... PDP itself as a party betrayed South East...
Bcus of interest...so??

kayusely70:
He's a traitor of the season!

APC urchins

What are they saying I don't understand the grievances

As a Deltan, I can't give Atiku and Okowa my vote. God forbid bad thing. The Southern appeal PDP wished to gather with Okowa is dead on arrival. What has he done in Delta State to warrant him being the VP except the massive looting??

As for me and my fellow Deltans I can preach to, we will be Obidient come 2023.