2023: PANDEF sticks to pact with Afenifere, Ohanaeze, MBF; rules out northern candidate

South-South influential group, Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, is sticking to the decision of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) to mobilize support for only parties fielding southern candidates in the 2023 presidential election.

SMBLF comprises of PANDEF, Afenifere (South-West socio-political group), Ohanaeze Ndigbo of the South-East and the Middle Belt Forum and took the position to back southern candidates based on power rotation between the North and South of the country.

The group took the decision sometime last year ahead of the emergence of the presidential candidates for the 2023 election.

Whereas some parties toed the line of SMBLF by picking southern presidential candidates to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari who is from the North, others acted in blatant disregard of the position.

The National Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Mr Ken Robinson, at the weekend, said “we will not support any political party that has a northern presidential candidate in 2023”.

Asked pointedly if the SMBLF stand stays ahead of the 2023 elections, Robinson told Sunday Vanguard in an interview: “Exactly, we will not support any political party that has a northern presidential candidate in 2023.

It is essential to emphasize that this is a collective position of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) comprising Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Middle Belt Forum and, of course, PANDEF.

“The decision was taken at a meeting of SMBLF in Abuja on the 30th of May last year (2021) and it has maintained that position to date.

“And it is based, purely, on the fundamental principles of equity, fairness and justice, and the age-long pact of power rotation between the North and the South, particularly the office of the President, which has helped to stabilize the nation’s polity since independence.

“Therefore, the collective stance remains that President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, would be completing the statutory eight years for the office of President in May 2023, it would be unwelcomed to have another northerner, whether Muslim or Christian, as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in 2023.

“As the late South African Nobel Peace Prize winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, eloquently surmised, ‘If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.’”

Credit: Vanguard

Tinubu Appoints Chioma Awuzie Substantive Rector, Fed Poly Oko

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Chioma Irene Awuzie as the substantive Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State. Dr. Awuzie's appointment, which takes effect immediately for a five-year term, follows the recommendation of the Polytechnic's Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Dr. Barnabas Gemade, after a transparent and competitive selection process where she emerged as the leading candidate. Prior to her appointment, Awuzie, who holds a Doctorate Degree in Physical and Materials Chemistry, was a distinguished Chief Lecturer in the Department of Science Laboratory Technology (Chemistry Option) and also Director in-charge of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Projects in the Polytechnic. Under her stewardship, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, witnessed unprecedented advancements in infrastructure and institutional transformation. Her leadership facilitated monumental developments across the Polytechnic’s campuses in Oko, ...

#Watchvideo : SECURITY FORCES BURST THE CAMP OF UNKNOWN GUNMEN IN AKOKWA

Security Forces in the state through a coordinated intelligence report has bursted the camp of the unknown gunmen at Akokwa, Arondizuogu after a long gun duel which resulted to the death of some of the criminals and others arrested. These criminal elements have been known to be behind several attacks in the state such as the killing of police men in Mbaise, Aba Branch in Ehime Mbano, burning down of police stations, attack and attempted kidnapping of former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, abduction of Miss. P.P. Johnson, a female soldier in Okigwe and recently the attack in Akokwa that left many dead. It is obvious that these daredevil gunmen have been perpetuating their evil plans unabated until yesterday when their camp was bursted by security agencies. This is another assurance that our security operatives are leaving no stone unturned in the fight against banditry and other related activities. While it has become obvious that the activities of these non state actors are politically motivate...

Valentine Ozigbo Resigns from Labour Party

In a shocking move, against all speculations over the last few days, Valentine Ozigbo, a close ally of Peter Obi, has announced his resignation from the Labour Party (LP). Ozigbo confirmed his decision to Diaspora Digital Media on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, but declined to provide further details, opting instead to share his reasons during an interactive session on X (Twitter) Space. The session, scheduled for 8 PM, will feature Ozigbo in conversation with Anambra's First Son, @uchepokoye, discussing pressing issues affecting Anambra State, including security challenges, societal fabric collapse, and the hope for a better future. Ozigbo's resignation has sparked interest, with many awaiting his detailed explanation for leaving the Labour Party. His decision comes at a critical time for the party, which has been navigating various challenges in recent months. Credit: Diaspora Digital Media

NIGERIAN NOTCH

Search This Blog