Southern, Middle Belt leaders accuse group of ‘impersonation’ over call for scrapping of 1999 Constitution

Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has chided a group, Nigerian Alliance for Self-Determination (NASD), for allegedly impersonating it and its leaders, without any recourse to them, as being part of its positions in its recent publication where it reportedly gave a 90-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to scrap the 1999 Constitution.

Nigerian Alliance for Self-Determination had reportedly fingered the 1999 Constitution as being responsible for the worsening security situation in the country and poverty in the land.

However, SMBLF expressed its displeasure on Wednesday in a statement entitled: “Stop misusing SMBLF,” and jointly signed by Mr. Yinka Odumakin on behalf of South-West, Chief Guy Ikokwu (South-East), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South) and Dr. Isuwa Dogo (Middle-Belt), describing the action as indecent and unacceptable.

The Forum, while saying that it held no grudges against any other group in holding its positions on national issues, restated that it would never hide under any other group or surrogates to make statements on issues as that would be too demeaning.

“The attention of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has been drawn to a recent publication by the leaders of the platform known as Nigerian Alliance for Self-Determination.

“The group had reportedly given a 90-day ultimatum for the scrapping of 1999 Constitution as it was responsible for the worsening security situation in the country and poverty in the land and circulated its position to the international community.

“We note that not only was the group parading the image of SMBLF as being part of its positions, but it also used the identities of some of our prominent leaders in advancing its objectives without any recourse whatsoever to them.

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“While we hold no grudges against any other group in holding its positions on national issues, we consider it indecent and unacceptable impersonating identities of others, especially our respected leaders,” SMBLF said.

SMBLF urged Nigerian Alliance for Self-Determination to henceforth be bold enough to use its name and the true identities of its leaders and members to push its positions, saying this was the right thing to do if it had conviction and dignity of purpose.”

This was just as the Forum restated that it would never hide under any other group or surrogates to make statements on issues as that would be too demeaning,

“We advise the group in question to henceforth be bold enough to use its name and the true identities of its leaders and members to push its positions. This is the right thing to do if it has conviction and dignity of purpose.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we restate that the SMBLF will never hide under any other group or surrogates to make statements on issues as that would be too demeaning,” it said.

According to SMBLF, it has continued to make its positions especially the imperative of restructuring the country and the urgency of enthroning, equity, fairness and justice, very clear and unequivocal, declaring that it also remained open to discussions with other groups in the country on ways of ensuring that she was returned to the original visions of true federalism of the nation’s founding fathers which had now been totally abandoned.

“We have continued to make our positions especially the imperative of Restructuring the country and the urgency of enthroning, equity, fairness and justice, very clear and unequivocal.

“We also remain open to discussions with other groups in the country on ways of ensuring that Nigeria is returned to the original visions of true federalism of our founding fathers which has now been totally abandoned,” the Forum said.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE