The Middle Belt Conscience Guard (MBCG) says the region deserves a shot at the presidency at the next elections in return for its numerous contributions to peace and development of the country.

The group noted that the zone has suffered neglect since the return of democracy in 1999, yet to test power at the national level despite its massive role in the emergence of leaders.

Speaking at a press conference today in Abuja, its General Secretary, Elder Omale Ben Amedu, said a power shift to the south would not only be misplaced but a great disservice to the North-Central part of the country.

Judging by competence, capacity and pedigree, Elder Amedu said Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State is the most suitable choice to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Recall that the governor had earlier today met with President Buhari and harped on North-Central presidency for the sake of equity and justice.

Throwing their weight behind the governor, the Middle Belt Conscience Guard said only someone from the region can unite the nation amidst threats of secession from ther other zones.

The group said after a stakeholders meeting, it was concluded that with Governor Bello, Nigeria will be in safe hands.

The Middle-Belt forum, however, distanced itself from individuals and groups from the region canvassing for power shift to the South, noting that they are bereft of ideas.

It, therefore, urged all stakeholders, sons and daughters of the zone to show their support for Bello as he proven to be tailor-made for the job.

Read full statement below:

Ladies and Gentlemen, the leadership of the Middle Belt Conscience Guard, warmly welcome you all to this press conference convoked to highlight the crucial discourse in the country amid the clamour for the region in the country that should produce the next president.

As a body, we are constrained to lend our voice to this debate in the national interest and, given the dynamics involved in such an enterprise, which might have unpleasant consequences if not carefully handled.

As we may be aware, the polity is charged with various agitations, some of appropriate content and some of the unreasonable content. However, what we must not fail to come to terms is the fact that given the geographical spread of the country, and its inherent peculiarities, power shift to the southern part of the country would not only be misplaced, it would be a great disservice to the North Central part of the country.

It must be stated in unequivocal terms that the North Central part of Nigeria, which by nomenclature can still be regarded as the Middle Belt, has been integral to the country’s socio-economic development since the return of democracy in 1999.

It is also on record that the North Central region in Nigeria has always played the beautiful bride during elections. Its commitment to the Nigerian cause has never been in doubt during and after the elections in Nigeria.

It, therefore, beats the imagination for any individual or group from the Middle Belt region to canvass for power shift to the South, while the Middle Belt/North Central has not enjoyed such privilege despite its numerous contributions to the peace and unity of the country without any form of grumblings.

It suffices to add that the history book is replete with instances where the Middle Belt/North Central region held the ace during the elections. In its characteristics manner, it ensured a peaceful process in the overarching interest of the country.
It is our considered view that those Middle Belters that are canvassing for power shift to the South are bereft of ideas because the Middle Belt/North Central boasts of very credible candidates with the capacity to translate our hopes and aspirations into tangible realities.

We also wish to place it on record that the presidential aspiration of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State indeed has the blessings of the Middle Belt region because he is one of us and highly regarded for his exploits, not just in Kogi state but the entire Middle Belt/North Central region.

His pedigree speaks volumes of a man committed to advancing the country’s cause by unifying all regions and ensuring that the country experiences tangible growth and development, which has been his hallmark in his capacity as the Governor of Kogi state.

It would thus amount to betrayal for groups and individuals from the Middle Belt region to agitate for power shift to the South. It is not only preposterous; it goes further to state that those at the vanguard of such agitations are not true sons and daughters of the region.

Consequently, we are appalled at such disposition, which amounts to a lack of strategy and foresight. We are tempted to believe that pecuniary gains might have propelled the agitations.

The fact that the Middle Belt has not enjoyed such benefits since the return of democracy in 1999 makes it more curious why Nigerians should disregard any form of agitation from groups parading themselves as representing the interest of the Middle Belt in the buildup to the general elections in 2023.

Either they have sold their conscience in return for a plate of porridge, or they have elected to heat the polity unnecessarily in the puerile attempt to cast aspersion on the credibility of the array of qualified aspirants from the Middle Belt/North Central region.

The Middle Belt Conscience Guard wishes to use this medium to inform the generality of the public that the agitation for power shift to the South by these perceived groups parading themselves as representing the interest of the Middle Belt is misplaced and should be disregarded in its entirety for lacking in merit and common sense.

This is aside from the fact that It will also amount to a betrayal of the Ebira nation and other minority groups in the north for anyone to begin to canvass for power shift to the south when the Middle Belt people are yet to have their turn as far as this country is concerned.

The Middle Belt Conscience Guard also believe that at this moment, it is only someone from the Middle Belt that will be able to unite the country. With the kind of leadership that Nigerians have confirmed that Governor Yahaya Bello has provided in Kogi State, one can only be assured that Nigeria will be in safe hands.

Thus, our support for the presidential aspiration of Governor Yahaya Bello is unflinching. We hold firmly that given the present circumstances in the country, Governor Yahaya Bello has all it takes to address the myriads of challenges confronting the country at this critical point of our existence.

We also wish to state that this position is hinged on the various high-level stakeholders’ consultation with well-meaning individuals and groups in the Middle Belt region, who were unanimous in their choice of Governor Yahaya Bello as the best candidate from the region to lead Nigeria to the path of sustainable growth and development.

We are also using this medium to warn those parading themselves as representing the interest of the Middle Belt to desist from such enterprise that is aimed at casting the Middle Belt/ North Central region as lacking credible candidates and unrecognized as a stakeholder in the scheme of things in the country.

Our firm position is that the Middle Belt/North Central is deserving of a shot at governance at the national level in return for its numerous contributions to peace and development in Nigeria. And the aspiration of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state indeed presents us with that unique opportunity that we must grab with both hands.

We thank you all for your time and attention. We desire that Governor Yahaya Bello’s aspiration to lead our great country would gather the required momentum in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Thanks, and God Bless Nigeria.

Some APC youths, stakeholders, and other party members have demanded that Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, resign immediately over alleged plots to impose candidates on the party.

The group, which goes by the name Concerned APC Youth Forum, claims the AGF has perfected plans to smuggle a list into the party’s national convention on February 26th.

The APC forum said in a press statement issued today in Abuja that Malami is on a mission to sow widespread discontent in the party by imposing candidates, the majority of whom are his allies and cronies.
The group’s convener/president, Comr. Owolabi Abdullahi, therefore, described Malami as an embarrassment to the party and the Buhari administration in all ramifications.

Abdullahi noted that as a matter of urgency, the AGF must desist from his ploy to dictate to members of the APC how to elect and whom to elect at the convention.

In order to save his reputation, the group, however, urged President Buhari to relieve Malami of his duties in the party’s interest should he fail to tender his immediate resignation from office.

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Read full statement below:

The recent events in the buildup to the APC national convention slated for February 26th 2022, has indeed called for concern from all stakeholders; hence this press conference convoked to press for the immediate resignation of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami from office with immediate effect.

We are indeed concerned that a high ranking member of the government and the party in the mould of the Justice Minister would elect to undertake acts that are inimical to the ideals of the party, which are clearly outside his purview. Mr Abubakar Malami, in recent times, has been meddlesome in the affairs of the party, using his office to cause intimidation and harassment to the current leadership of the party into submitting to his whims and caprices.

The Concerned APC Youth Forum finds his actions worrisome and an indication that the forthcoming National convention of the party might be in jeopardy due to the unwholesome activities of party members who have elected to make impositions of candidates the new norm at the expense of the array of credible candidates that have signified interest in the leadership positions in the party. We wish to state that the meddlesomeness of the AGF, Abubakar Malami, in the party’s affairs is unbecoming of a public official and the country’s chief law officer, whose conduct ought to be guided by fairness, equity and justice.

But he has indeed displayed an apparent lack of grasp of the issues regarding equity and justice through his actions regarding the forthcoming National Convention of the APC. As concerned stakeholders of the party, we wish to put it on record that the AGF is on a mission to cause gross disaffection in the party through the attempt to impose candidates on the party, most of which are his allies and cronies through which he intends to hijack the party structure in furtherance of his political ambition.

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It is also more worrisome that the AGF, Abubakar Malami, has carried on like the party’s legal adviser at the expense of his responsibilities as the chief law officer of the country, which has caused the government monumental embarrassment in recent times. There are numerous cases where his legal advice to Mr President on critical matters of national concern has caused the government untold embarrassment and to the chagrin of the APC as a party of repute.

A good example is how the AGF, Abubakar Malami, misled the president into signing Executive Order 10 that the Supreme Court has nullified. This is the most unbecoming of the AGF. It is our considered opinion that he is not fit for purpose.

His continued stay in office as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation can no longer be justified. The Concerned APC Youth Forum wishes to inform all stakeholders of the APC that the AGF, Abubakar Malami, is an embarrassment to the party and the APC government in all ramifications. So much so that we are tempted to question his legal qualifications and competence owing to the public ridicule he has brought to the revered Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

The AGF, Abubakar Malami, must, as a matter of urgency, desist from his ploy to dictate to members of the APC how to elect and whom to elect at the National Convention of the party. This is on the heels that should he continue in this fashion; there would be a torrent of litigation against the party after the National Convention.

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The APC as a party is known for its strict observance of democratic principles in line with the position of President Muhammadu Buhari, and for the AGF, having a contrary motive and strategy leaves all to the imagination with regards to his professional competence. We are consequently using this medium to call for the immediate resignation from the office of the AGF, Abubakar Malami, as it has been established beyond reasonable doubt that he lacks the moral right to advise Mr President on legal matters and the spirits of the Constitution is at stake with his continued stay in office.

He must be reminded that the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation is not an instrument for intimidation and imposition. And as the Chief Law Officer of the country, his public conduct must reflect that of a constitutional purist. We also wish to remind the AGF, Abubakar Malami, that the country is indeed aware of how he has monetized the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation in a most despicable and inglorious manner.

This is unacceptable, and his recent conduct within the party indeed justifies this position where he has positioned himself to be the Alfa and Omega regarding who occupies leadership positions in the party. The Concerned APC Youth Forum wishes to reiterate that democracy is at stake with the continued stay in office of the AGF, Abubakar Malami.

As such, nothing short of his immediate resignation from office would be accepted. Our firm position is that the APC as a party cannot afford the luxury of going into the 2023 general election in a rancorous manner, which would eventually lead to the disintegration of the party, and the consequent electoral defeat come 2023.

We are using this medium to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to act in the party’s interest by relieving the AGF, Abubakar Malami, of his duties should he fail to tender his immediate resignation from office. Mr President must be aware that his hard-earned reputation as an upright and fair leader to all is also at stake with how the AGF, Abubakar Malami, has conducted himself.

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This is indeed a litmus test for the party. We desire that Mr President would act decisively due to the urgency and necessity of the now. We also urge other concerned stakeholders of our great party to keep the faith alive as the shenanigans of the AGF, Abubakar Malami, and his co-travellers won’t see the light of the day.

We thank you all for your kind attention and encourage all to ensure that democracy thrives in our great party. We shall not be a party to any form of unnecessary interference in the democratic processes in the party.

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (NCSSR) has urged security agencies to pursue and prosecute electoral defaulters in the recently concluded FCT Area Council election.
NCSSR’s co-convener, James Ugochukwu, made the call in Abuja while presenting the group’s election findings.
He expressed regret that vote-buying appears to have become a common occurrence in the country’s elections, with the FCT election being no exception.
“Votes were sold for between N1,000 and N2,000 per voter in some locations,” he said. Voter-buying reportedly took the form of digital transfers in some locations, in addition to the usual cash distribution.
“The EFCC and ICPC should go after all the electoral offenders in Nigeria to curtail the trend of commercialization of votes and all electoral malpractices.”
Also speaking, convener of situation room, Ene Obi, called on INEC to improve its logistic arrangements.

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Obi said, “Many of the residents in the FCT were not aware of the elections until about two weeks to the elections. On election day particularly in the urban areas, voter turnout was very low.
“This may have been caused by several factors including the conflicting statements on restriction of movement and a lack of interest by the elite. Some residents also noted that they are registered to vote in their respective States and could not transfer to vote in the FCT just for the elections.
“Situation Room calls on INEC to carry out extensive voter education to raise awareness on the new polling units created in its Expansion of Access to Polling Units exercise in 2021, as well as the procedure for allotting voters to these new locations. INEC needs to also review the accessibility of polling units with registered voters who are PWDs, and also ensure the deployment of assistive materials to these locations.
“Political parties should also actively engage in voter mobilisation to address the trend of diminishing voter turnout. Parties and candidates are the beneficiaries of the votes and are not doing enough to canvass for these votes.

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“Situation Room enjoins security agencies to continue to build on the gains they have recorded in in election security in recent times by remaining professional in their conducts in upcoming elections. Also, security officials should devise means of actively addressing vote buying during elections.
“Situation Room is specifically calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the electoral bill to raise the standard of elections in Nigeria, improve electoral environment and prevent further excuses or deficiency in the electoral and voting processes.”

Former aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has revealed what those campaigning for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are doing with the leaked video of presidential candidate Bola Tinubu.

Osinbajo’s campaigners, according to Omokri, are promoting the video of Tinubu’s wet cloth.

The former presidential aide said in a tweet that he could reveal the names of Osinbajo’s campaign staffers who were behind the leaked video.

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He, on the other hand, believes that both camps should work out their differences.

“Tinubu’s camp may be surprised to learn that the embarrassing leaks about him are being promoted by Vice President Osinbajo’s campaigners,” Omokri writes.
“We can name names if they want. Let them sort themselves out, although we appreciate them exposing their dirty linen!”

Video footage had emerged on social media of the All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader having a wet cloth.

The incident was noticed and recorded while Tinubu was addressing his followers at the palace of the Awujale of Ijebuland in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

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The video had since sparked controversy among Nigerians as they insist that the former Governor of Lagos State is fit to rule Nigeria.

Despite speculations of him running, Osinbajo has denied contesting for the Presidency in 2023.