Southern and Middlebelt leaders have asked the federal government not to go ahead with its decision to take the controversial $800 million World Bank loan to cushion the effects of the planned removal of fuel subsidy on vulnerable Nigerians.
While decrying the state of the economy, the elders expressed “serious concern” over the continued snowballing level of indebtedness being incurred by the federal government, “particularly the recent request for $800 million World Bank loan, and called on the authorities to rescind that request.”
They lamented 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.
They therefore implored government at all levels to take urgent, practical steps to rejig the economy, check inflation and help improve citizens’ well-being and prospects.
The elders also noted the recent escalated killings across the country, including the unwillingness of security agencies to decisively deal with the perpetrators, saying this is exposing the country to a seeming state of war.
The leaders, who stated this in a communique after a meeting, expressed concern over security agencies’ turning a blind eye to the killings.
They added that it is shameful that non-state actors are allowed to openly move with dangerous weapons unhindered.
They also decried the indebtedness of the country and asked the federal government to rescind the recent request for $800 million World Bank loan.
SMBLF further urged the judiciary to be mindful 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.
The communique was signed by leaders of the various socio-ethnic organisations that formed the forum at the crucial meeting which was held on Wednesday, 24th May 2023, in Abuja.
The meeting which was chaired by elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark, had in attendance leaders of the component organisations: 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.
The communique was jointly signed by leaders of the constituent organisations namely Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Leader of Afenifere (South West); Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide (South East); Dr Pogu Bitrus, President, Middle Belt Forum (Middle Belt); as well as Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, National Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF (South-South).
The communique reads, “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.”
They also reflected on the outcome of the 2023 general election and commended Nigerian youths for their courage and astuteness in expressing their interest in the country’s future and called on them not to become discouraged by some of the seeming outcomes.
They however called on the youths of Nigeria to remain undeterred and emboldened to carry their foresight of building a new Nigeria to fruition, and to note that the struggle for needed change has just begun.
On the Judicial process 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.”
The meeting congratulated Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu on his emergence as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
The meeting eulogised its National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark on the occasion of his 96th birthday on Thursday, 25th May 2023.
The meeting also observed moments of silence for the memory of the late president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor, the late leader of the Middle Belt, Commodore Dan Suleiman, and late Senator Inatimi Rufus-Spiff, who was chairman of the Bayelsa State Chapter of PANDEF.
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