President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Bitrus Pogu, has said that the north central zone of the country remains committed to supporting a president of South-east extraction for the purpose of fairness, equity and justice.
Pogu made this known yesterday in Enugu at a colloquium held as part of the 70th birthday celebration of the former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo.
The ceremony was graced by former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo who was its chairman, leader of Afenifere, the Yoruba apex sociopolitical group, Ayo Adebanjo and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
In his address, Pogu praised Nwodo over his role in the emergence of Obi as presidential candidate from the Southeast, noting that hopefully, the LP candidate will emerge as the next president of Nigeria by 2023.
“We have said it again and again that Interest of equity, fairness and justice, the president should come from the south, particularly, the Southeast” he said. In the middle Belt, we are with Obi for a better Nigeria.”
Speaking further he said: “When Obi emerges, Nwodo will stand by him as one of the persons who played a major role in presenting him to us”.
Among the prominent personalities were former Nigeria President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Okey Emuchay.
Others included the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, leader of Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu, Secretary General of Pan Niger Delta Forum(PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Igali, among others.
