A coalition of Nigerian Youths and Students has urged the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) to change their decision on the nomination of Delta State Governor  Ifeanyi Okowa, as the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) for the 2023 general election.

The coalition noted that there was a need for the southern leaders to support Dr Okowa ahead of the general election.

The coalition’s position was convened to reporters at a briefing on Sunday by President of the Nigerian Youth Union, Comrade Chinonso Obasi.

Members of the coalition include, Oodua Youth Parliament, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) South-South and South-East, National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Southern Youth Forum, Northern Youth Initiative for Good Governance and African Students Education Support Initiative (ASESI).

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The regional organisations, comprising Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Middle Belt Forum and Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), had described Okowa as a betrayer and a traitor for accepting the vice president position.

Led by the leader of the SMBLF and Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, the regional leaders described the Delta State governor’s action as “treacherous and tantamount to a despicable pawning of the political future of the people of Southern Nigeria.”

However, during the briefing, Obasi described Okowa as the most qualified candidate for the VP job, adding that the governor was appointed because he had the legislative and executive experiences, as well as administrative and governance experiences required to run for the office of the vice president.

He said: “The choice of the PDP leaders is right and they won’t regret it as predicted by the regional leaders in the statement they released  at the weekend.

“At this point, there must not be confusion in PDP which is preparing to rescue Nigeria from the hands of the All Progressives Congress, APC government that has succeeded in achieving one thing in the last seven years, which is more pains and hardship in the country.

“As the umbrella body of Nigerian youths, I can assure the regional leaders that Nigerian youths are with the PDP Presidential candidate and his Vice, Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyi Okowa, , and they would work for their victory in the forthcoming elections.

“We also encourage the PDP flag bearers to reach out to Nigerians: with their policies and programs designed to restore the lost glory and battered image of the Country.”