Presidential poll tribunal should be guided by rule of law –Southern, Middle Belt Leaders

 

-Warns against $800m World Bank loan

IBRAHIM QUADRI

 

 

Barely four days to May 29, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) on Wednesday cautioned the judicial arm especially  the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) to be mindful of the process of adjudication based on rule of law and respect for the constitution.

 

The Forum however commended the various political parties for subjecting themselves to the expected judicial processes in line with the Constitution and the Electoral Laws of the country.

 

These were parts of the communique issued at the end of the SMBLF that was held in Abuja.

 

It also condemned the indebtedness being incurred by the Federal Government, particularly the recent request for $800 million World Bank loan, saying that the Federal Government should rescind taking such step.

 

 

The communique was signed by Chief (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, CON – Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo – Leader, Afenifere, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, CFR – President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr. Pogu Bitrus – National President, Middle Belt Forum and Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, FNSE- National Chairman, PANDEF.

 

The elderstatesmen also frowned at the nonchalant attitudes of some outgoing governors over the collapse of security in certain parts of their states.

 

The Forum condemned the total destruction of entire communities and means of livelihood in several targeted areas in select states since after the 2023 General elections.

 

The states according to the keaders include, mainly in Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, Kebbi, and various states of the South East.

 

They therefore warned that the future of Nigeria can only be sustained on the basis of true federalism and respect for the autonomy of the federating units.

 

The meeting which was chaired by elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, OFR, CON, had in attendance leaders of the component organizations: 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.

 

Delegations of the constituent organizations were respectively led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Leader of Afenifere (South West); Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, CFR, President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide (South East); Dr. Pogu Bitrus, President, Middle Belt Forum (Middle Belt); as well as Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, FNSE, National Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF (South-South).

 

Delegates to the meeting who were drawn from  former Governors, Ministers, Federal and State legislators, Community leaders, top politicians and professionals from the Southern and Middle Belt regions.

 

The communique partly read, “The meeting deliberated extensively on the present state of affairs in Nigeria, especially the renewed siege of insecurity around the country, the ongoing post-election judicial process in the various Tribunals and the national economy.

 

“Restates its time-tested position that the future of Nigeria can only be sustained on the basis of true federalism and respect for the autonomy of the federating units.

 

“Express shock at the escalation of killings, pogroms, total destruction of entire communities and means of livelihood in several targeted areas in select states since after the 2023 General elections, mainly in Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, Kebbi, and various states of the South East, where hundreds of armless citizens are being slaughtered daily.

 

“Notes with grave concern that the nation’s security agencies have continued to show unwillingness to decisively deal with the perpetrators of these monstrous acts, or rather, deliberately turned a blind eye to the atrocious occurrences, thereby exposing the country to a seeming state of war. It is shameful that non-state actors are allowed to openly tote dangerous weapons about and rampage the country unhindered.

 

“Condemns, in unmistakable terms, the cavalier and totally nonchalant attitudes of the outgoing governors of some states over the collapse of security in certain parts of their states, which has continued to exacerbate the worrisome situation, and hopes their successors will show greater commitment to the welfare of their citizens who are the victims of this sad situation.

 

“Further warns that the continuous abdication of Government’s primary and abiding constitutional responsibility of safeguarding the lives and properties of its citizens is an irresistible signal to Nigerians to exercise their inalienable rights of self-defense, by all means.

 

“Again deplores the inhuman plight of thousands of indigenous people in the Middle Belt states driven out of their homes and have now become Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) for years as well as several other Internally Displaced Persons in different parts of the country, left to live in conditions that impinge on their human rights as citizens of this country. Hence, calls on the Federal Government to, without any further delay, facilitate the return and reintegration of these Nigerians to their Communities.”

 

On the 2023 General elections, SMBLF commended Nigerian youths for their courage and astuteness in expressing their interest in the future of this country and  therefore called on them not to become discouraged by some of the seeming outcomes.

 

The statement added, “SMBLF strongly urges the Nation’s Judiciary to be aware that all Nigerians are watching with very keen interest the ongoing judicial processes at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal as well as various election tribunals across the country.

 

“Further cautions the judicial arm, at all levels, to be mindful of the fact that the present process is a true test of our effort at building a country based on rule of law and respect for our constitution. It is the expectation of Nigerians that the outcome of the processes will be a reflection of the provisions of the Constitution of the country, which must be sacrosanct, and the rights of all affected parties upheld based on the provisions of the laws of Nigeria.

 

“SMBLF commends the various parties for subjecting themselves to the expected judicial processes in line with the Constitution and the Electoral Laws of the country.

 

“SMBLF notes with serious concern, the continued snowballing level of indebtedness being incurred by the Federal Government, particularly the recent request for $800 million World Bank loan, and calls on the Federal Government to rescind that request.

 

“Decries the rising cost of living in the country and the hyper inflation rate, confining a vast majority of ordinary Nigerians to a dire state of survival. Implores government at all levels to take urgent, practical steps to rejig the economy, check inflation and help improve citizens’ well-being and prospects.”