By METROWATCH Reporter
Elder statesmen and prominent leaders from four of the country’s six geopolitical zones have endorsed the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as their candidate in the upcoming presidential election on February 25.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, (SMBLF) is made up of leaders from the Middle- Belt, Ndi- Igbo (Ohanaeze, Afenifere, Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF) and headed by Edwin Clark of the South-South.
The decision was taken at the end of the extraordinary meeting of the forum on Wednesday in Abuja.
The Communique was read by the immediate past President General of the umbrella body of Ndigbo Worldwide, the Ohanaeze, Chief John Nnia Nwodo.
The Forum while urging Nigerians to join them in realizing the dream of making Obi the next President, vowed to resist attempt to derail the process and in defense of the ballot box.
The SIMBLF leaders promise to work assiduously in their various constituencies to promote the objectives and ensure that it is realized for the betterment of Nigeria.
The leaders said all members of the various groups support the aspiration of Obi-Datti Presidency under the Labour Party.
The Communique read: “That we give our unalloyed vote of thanks to our father and leader chief Edwin Clark for his boldness, his sagacity, his tenacity and his relentlessness in pursuing the aims and aspirations of this organization.
“That we warn all those who wants to change the hands of the clock of Nigeria by doing anything that will derail a peaceful transition to the next Civilian government of this country, that we shall rise like one-man in defense of the ballot box and that Nigerians must go to vote.
“This we have resolved today and we enjoin other Nigerians who do not belong to our organization to join us in realizing this for the betterment of Nigeria.
“Peter Obi is your Son and he is the rock upon which Nigeria will stand.”
Pa Ayo Adebanjo (Afenifere) said, “The battle is on. We are in a war and our opponents are not sleeping at all. They’ve underrated us in the past but they are now seeing the stuff we are made of now.
“They are making all sorts of devices to ensure that power remains in a particular part of the country. That’s why they are not even supporting the candidate of their own party.
“You are fighting for your freedom. Don’t joke with your freedom. Don’t be deceived. They are not going to organise any election. We are fighting to get out of slavery and bondage.
“We all living in denials. Even among the Igbo. The impunity is too much and you don’t want those who are dissatisfied to leave the country.
“Obi’s phenomenon is not just about Labour Party. LP is now like NADECO. Obi is leading the crusade to get us out of bondage of serious oppression.
“They don’t want to leave office. I’m saying it openly here. It is not a joke that they want to scuttle the election. You must be prepared for post election.
“We will give it what it takes. It is either bend or break. If Obi does not win, forget a country called Nigeria.
“If we lose this election, there will be no opportunity for a non Christian, a non Northerner to be president again.
“Right now they are planning to vote for Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party by jettisoning their candidate in the Labour Party.
“They want another northerner to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. How they want to do it, I don’t know but we must all be prepared for a war.
“Have it at the back of your mind that Obi must be declared president. Anything contrary to this, we should forget about Nigeria.”
Dele Farotimi, an activist said: “We know when it’s our turn, and we do not require anybody to tell us when it’s our turn.
When a man presumes to arrogate to himself what belongs to all members, it is not emi lokan, it is awa lokan, it is the turn of all of us, whether you are part of PANDEF, a Yoruba man, a Hausa man, a Fulani or a kanuri for that matter, it is either Nigeria belongs to all of us or it doesn’t belong anybody. This time around, it is a thing of joy and great pride, we have been coordinating to support a man that we can actually stand behind, follow and say yes, this is our own and not one of those thieves masquerading as saints.”
Also present was Dr. Bittus Pogu, (President of the Middle Belt Forum) among other elders.
