The Middle Belt Forum has said it would work against Atiku during the 2023 general election.
The National President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu, made the position of the regional body known in an interview with The PUNCH in Jos on Sunday .
Pogu said, “We had made it clear before now that we would not support any political party that fields a northerner as its presidential candidate during the 2023 election and we still stand by that position.
“So, the PDP has lost our support by fielding the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, as its flag bearer and we will surely work against him. “
Also, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum described the emergence of Atiku as a brazing affront on the people of the PDP
In a communiqué jointly signed on Sunday by leaders of the groups that make up the forum, the group also asked politicians in the region to reject any nomination for the office of the Vice President.
The signatories to the communiqué included Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw (PANDEF/South-South); Ambassador Okey Emuchay (Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide/South East); Jare Ajayi (Afenifere/South West); Dr Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt Forum), and Ken Robinson who is the acting coordinator of SMBLF.
“SMBLF, therefore, totally REJECTS the candidacy of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and calls on our people of Southern Nigeria and the Middle Belt as well as all true lovers of peace and unity not to vote for him or any other Northerner in the 2023 presidential election, in the interest of posterity.
“SMBLF further urges all aspirants for the office of President from Southern Nigeria to shun the conceited attitude of individualism and self-confidence, and work collectively to achieve the shared objectives. Again, SMBLF calls on all politicians of Southern extraction to refuse the position of a running mate to any Northern Presidential candidate, which will equally be viewed as subjugating their people to political slavery.”
(Punch)
