Confederate, middle belt leaders support Obi

…this election is war, says Adebanjo

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has endorsed the Labor Party’s presidential candidate in the upcoming presidential election, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, describing them as the best among others.

The SMBLF supported Obi on Thursday after his marathon rally in Abuja, attended by leaders from the Middle Belt Forum, Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Pan-Niger Delta Forum and a cross-section of dignitaries and opinion leaders from the country.

Attendees included Afenifere leader Chief Ayo Adebanjo; MBF leader, Dr. Pogu Bitrus; a former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwumeka Ezeife; a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Bucknor Akerele; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and the leader of PANDEF, Chief Edwin Clark, among others.

A communiqué read at the end of the meeting by the SMBLF’s coordinator, Chief John Nwodo, said the organization decided to approve the Obi/Datti ticket and LP because they represented the symbol of the mission to protect Nigeria. save from imminent collapse.

According to the SMBLF, Obi epitomized the kind of leader Nigeria needed right now given his track record.

The organization also said that apart from the need to enshrine justice, fairness and equity in Nigeria’s leadership, Obi represented the best leadership qualities among all the frontrunners in the presidential race.

The SMBLF ordered all affiliated group leaders to go home and mobilize for Obi and the Labor Party.

Speaking of speculation that some undemocratic elements were conspiring to delay or sink the upcoming presidential election, the SMBLF warned it would not tolerate such moves and would collectively oppose them.

Adebanjo in his presentation instructed the delegates to take the approval seriously as the 2023 elections may be the last chance for well-meaning Nigerians to save the country.

He said that at 95 he was already old and could afford to leave the business to younger people.

The non-year-old said he chose to stay in the fight because of the offspring.

He compared the current struggle to enthrone good leadership with the National Democratic Coalition’s struggle against military rule in the 1990s.

In his view, all hands must be on deck for the Obi project to succeed.

“Don’t be fooled, this is not just an election, it is a war and our opponents are not sleeping at all. You are fighting to free yourself and your children’s children from slavery. The oppressors don’t want to leave power,” he said.

Ezeife drew the attention of the SMBLF to alleged plans by some anti-democratic forces to cause chaos to sink the upcoming election.

In his view, the plot by some people to distort the polls should not be brushed aside as a rumor, as those behind the threats were desperate and could go to any lengths to achieve their goals.