By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Contrary to the fear of some Northern elites that power shift to the Southern part of Nigeria in 2023 will be injurious to the Northerners, the leader of Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr. Bitrus Pogu, has poured cold water on such arguments, insisting that power rotation is to North’s larger benefits and nation’s interest.
Also, for the umpteenth time the National President of MBF called for the restructuring of the country, arguing that Nigeria as presently configured cannot work for the citizens because the nation is distorted and fragmented.
Speaking on Arise Television breakfast programme,The Morning Show, monitored on Thursday in Abuja, Dr. Pogu who is also the Chairman of Power Rotation Movemen (PRM), a group working for the actualization of power shift to South in 2023, said those clamouring for power to remain in the North at the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure in 2023 do not have the interest of the country at heart.
According to him: “our country is in dire straits now as we have so many challenges in all fronts especially in economy, security and governance. Nothing is working at the moment and Nigerians are the worst for it. This is why those of us in the Middle Belt are saying we need competent hands to manage the affairs of Nigeria”.
Dr. Pogu who have been in the forefront of fighting the cause of minority tribes of the Middle Belt said he is supporting the Southern Governors Forum’s demand for power to shift to South in 2023 because it will benefit the country.
“The Middle Belt Forum is supporting the Southern Governors Forum’s stand like our counterparts, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Afenifere, because it will amount to grave injustice for the Southern part of Nigeria to denied the chance to produce the next President after President Buhari”, the MBF Leader stated.
Asked how he received the recent reactions by some Northern groups that Southern Governors Forum cannot bully or threaten the North to relinquish power to South, the Chairman of the movement said such views are unfortunate as the North has not benefitted much by clinging to power for so long.
Said he: “If the leaders of the North say that demanding for justice, equity and fairness is a threat then it is unfortunate. Our movement is passionate about restoring Nigeria to her glorious days”
“We are passionate believers that power should rotate in this country and should move from the North to the South.
“This is why we launched the 40 million ballot movement. That’s the sensitization of the youth. We launched it for our youth to key in so we can rescue Nigeria together”, Dr. Pogu said.
According to Bitrus ” leaders in the South and Middle Belt met in Abuja and agreed that power should rotate to the South, that the Middle Belt and the South should move against any party that fields any candidate outside the Southern part of the country”.
Said he: “This was why we paid a solidarity visit to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state who is the Chairman of the Forum to send our message to his brother Governors in Nigeria that any of the political parties that fielded Presidential candidates outside the South will not be supported in 2023”.
He posited that the movement has come to stay, adding that many people from the North have keyed into the project in order to preserve the oneness of Nigeria.
Other members of the movement include the Co-chair, Rtd. General Collins Ihekire, representing the Ohaneze Ndigbo; National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, Abagun Kole Omololu; representative of Yoruba Council of Elders, Hon. Ayodele Oni; National Publicity Secretary of Afenfere, Comrade Jaye Ajayi; National Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Hon. Ken. Robinson; and Comrade Kennedy Iyere, National Coordinator of Power-shift Movement & Forty Million Ballots ( a movement being driven by the Youth) among others.
