Halt depreciating Naira, worsening hardship, SMBLF urges Tinubu

According to Newsmen, Elders and leaders from southern Nigeria and the Middle Belt have analyzed the current state of affairs in Nigeria and have reached a grim conclusion: the standard of living is rapidly declining and needs to be stopped.

They have also called on President Bola Tinubu to take action to stabilize the depreciating Naira, initiate efforts to restructure Nigeria towards full fiscal federalism, put an end to the marginalization of certain regions in terms of appointments, creation of states and local councils, and release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

These decisions were made during a meeting of the elders and leaders under the banner of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) in Abuja on Thursday.

Represented at the meeting were leaders and elders from the South-East, South-West, South-South, and Middle-Belt regions, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Afenifere, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and the Middle Belt Forum (MBF).

The meeting, chaired by Chief E. K. Clark, was attended by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere; Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo; Dr. Pogu Bitrus, President of the Middle Belt Forum; Senator Cornelius Adebayo, former Governor of Kwara State; Obong Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State; and Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien, National Chairman of PANDEF.

Other attendees included General Zamani Lekwot Retd., former Military Governor of Rivers State, and General Lawrence Onoja Retd., former Military Governor of Katsina State.