A Niger Delta group, SRM has urged regional leaders kicking against the emergence of the Delta State governor as Atiku’s running mate to sheathe their sword.
Specifically, the group urged Ijaw leader, Clark; Yoruba leader, Adebanjo; President General, Middle Belt Forum, Bitrus and President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Obiozor to rethink their position.
In a statement by the National Coordinator of the group, Mr Emmanuel Sorokwu, the group absolved the Delta State governor of any blame over the purported betrayal of the South by accepting the position.
Maintaining that the outburst by the leaders was unwarranted, the group stressed that Okowa’s nomination as Atiku’s running mate was a boost for the aspiration of the southern part of the country.
It added that the war-like posture of the group contravenes the spirit of a united Nigeria.
The elders under the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) had in a statement accused Okowa of betraying the south by accepting the running mate slot to Atiku.
However, the group accused the leaders of fanning the embers of disunity, noting that their position was akin to asking the south to boycott the 2023 elections because the presidency was not ceded to the zone.
Sorokwu said the position of the leaders was unfortunate, given their pedigree as elder statesmen in the country.
“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is a known loyal party man and will always submit to the dictates of the party. Since the winner of the PDP presidential ticket is from the north, obviously the running mate will come from the South.
“More so, both the South-east and North-east have not had a shot at the presidency; so, the North-east having it will mean hope for the South-east,” the former Chairman of Aniocha Local Government Area, who leads the group said.
He added: “As a group, we have very high regards for these elder statesmen but we need to set the records straight. We want to make it clear that the Delta State governor didn’t commit any crime or betray the political aspiration of the south as insinuated by the elders.
“Okowa instead was one of the people that worked for power to shift to the South, howbeit, he does not believe that politics or issue of power shift must be a do or die affair.
“We appeal to them to see the emergence of Okowa as a call to service of our fatherland. We crave their support as fathers and not antagonism. We all need power shift to the South but we must go about it democratically,” the group added. (Thisday)
