The leaders and elders of the southeast, southwest, south-south, and Middle Belt Regions have urged President Bola Tinubu to as a matter of urgency address the continuous fall of the naira.
The leaders of thought under the umbrella South and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) also charged the president to restructure the country to reflect true Federalism.
The group also called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
These were some of the decisions reached at its meeting on Thursday, October 27, according to the communique issued at the end of the meeting.
The communique was signed by Chief (Dr.) E.K. Clark – Leader; Chief Ayo Adebanjo – Leader, Afenifere Chief Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide; General Zamani Lekwot rtd – Chairman, Middle Belt Elders Council, and Former Military Governor, Rivers State; Dr. Pogu Bitrus – President, Middle Belt Forum and Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien, – National Chairman, PANDEF
The group, according to the communique called for redoubled efforts to cushion the effect of naira depreciation on the masses.
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It stated: “SMBLF urges that efforts be redoubled to assuage the daily depreciating living standard of Nigerians; calls on the Federal Government to urgently salvage the Naira, which continues to depreciate daily.”
The group also called on the federal government to prioritise the restructuring of the country, saying it is necessary for the development and growth of the country.
The group added: “That the Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, and priority, work towards the Restructuring of the country and enthrone True Federalism as was originally entrenched in the 1960 and 1963 constitutions;
“That, without restructuring, the future of Nigeria and democracy remain bleak and must, therefore, be carried out immediately.”
The group further urged the government to take an urgent look at the 2014 National Conference Report, concluded by 494 of the Country’s leaders, as well as the All Progressives Congress (APC) Report on True Federalism.
The group also offered to set up a Strategic Committee on Restructuring and expressed readiness to interface with the federal government, the National Assembly, and all other stakeholders, on the enunciated issues.
It expressed great concern and total rejection of the trend where certain sections of the country are continually marginalized in the number of states, local governments, and even appointments to the Federal Executive Council.
“Particularly requests that the South-East be appropriately represented on the Federal Executive Council, similar to other Geo-Political Zones.
“Insists that Nigeria must always remain a country where all citizens and sections enjoy a full sense of belonging and equality.”
The group also commended the political class, especially the leading Presidential candidates in the 2023 Presidential Election for their recourse to constitutional means in redressing their grievances.
On Nnamdi, the group advised that the federal government should take urgent steps to release Nnamdi Kanu since a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered so. We believe that doing so will promote peace and security in the southeast.”