By Piriye Jack
The Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Forum has voiced their concerns over a growing trend of political marginalization and injustice within Nigeria’s political system, particularly towards Southern Leaders.
The forum, representing a group of former agitators from the oil-rich Niger Delta region, decried what they perceive as a systematic effort to undermine Southern leadership in the country.
Speaking in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, the forum chronicled a historical pattern of Southern Leaders facing political opposition and agitation, citing the presidency of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who was denied a second term due to strong Northern opposition.
With the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu barely a year old, the forum raised the alarm over renewed calls from Northern groups for his removal. This, they argue, is part of a larger pattern that has destabilized the nation and eroded its unity.
According to the statement, “despite the significant security challenges and other pressing issues that plagued the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, he remained in power for a two-term tenure of eight years, largely unchallenged.”
The group called for an immediate end to what they described as a “glaring disparity” in the treatment of Southern Leaders, insisting that this pattern must be put to an end if the unity and stability of Nigeria are to be preserved.
The forum declared their unequivocal support for President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” describing it as a comprehensive blueprint for addressing the complex challenges facing Nigeria. They praised Tinubu’s administration for its commitment to reforms and development, urging all Nigerians to support his vision for a united and prosperous nation.
Speaking through Ambassador Dr. Alban Paulinus, Chairman, Akwa Ibom Ex-Agitators Forum, the forum also addressed the historical bias against Southern Senate Presidents, listing several past leaders from the South who were either impeached or removed before completing their tenures. They contrasted this with Northern Senate Presidents who served full terms without significant challenges. The recent calls for the impeachment of Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, the current President of the 10th Senate, were seen as a continuation of this troubling trend.
“The Senate Presidency position must be a symbol of national unity, not a weapon of regional domination,” the group asserted. They vowed to resist any attempts to impeach Akpabio and insisted that he should be allowed to complete his tenure without distractions.
Addressing political concerns, the forum called for the immediate establishment of a South-South Development Commission, similar to development agencies created in other geopolitical zones of Nigeria. They emphasized that this demand is distinct from the existing Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which serves oil-producing states in multiple regions. The forum urged Senator Akpabio and other federal legislators from the South-South region to expedite the passage of a bill establishing this commission.
The forum called on their brethren from the South-West and South-East regions to join forces in forming a Southern Nigerian Movement. This movement, they proposed, would aim to protect, project, and defend the political, economic, and regional interests of Southern Nigeria. They also extended an invitation to the Middle Belt region to join in addressing the pressing security challenges affecting them.
The press conference concluded with a powerful call to action, urging all Nigerians and the international community to recognize the need for change and justice in Nigeria. “A single stick may smoke, but it will not burn,” they said, emphasizing that only through unity can the rights, interests, and future of all Nigerians be secured.
The Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Forum reaffirmed their commitment to defending the unity, integrity, and prosperity of Nigeria, but with a clear demand for justice, equity, and fairness for all regions of the nation.
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