In a recent interview with The Sun, Pa Edwin Clark, the elder statesman and leader of the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), discussed the formation and objectives of the SMBLF. He emphasized that the organization was created to advocate for the interests of Southerners, people from the Middle Belt, and minorities throughout Nigeria.
Clark explained that the SMBLF represents regions including the South-West, South-South, and South-East, as well as states in the Middle Belt such as Plateau, Benue, Kwara, Niger, Nassarawa, and Kogi. The forum also includes Southern Kaduna and parts of the North-West, like Kebbi and Zamfara, and aligns with the Yoruba population in Kwara.
He recounted the formation of various groups during President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua's illness, including the Congress for Equality and Change (CEC) led by former Senate President Ameh Ebute, which comprised over 400 attendees, including retired generals. Additionally, Clark detailed the establishment of the Southern Nigeria People's Assembly, which aimed to address issues affecting Southerners and held its inaugural meeting in Uyo, hosted by then-Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio.
The SMBLF played a major role in advocating for a new constitution, which culminated in the 2014 National Conference. Clark criticized former President Muhammadu Buhari for his nepotistic policies and constitutional breaches, favoring the Fulani and Hausa regions over the southern parts of Nigeria.
Clark highlighted the significant constitutional breaches committed by Buhari, noting that he neglected the principle of federal character entrenched in the Nigerian constitution. This neglect prompted the SMBLF to take legal action. Clark was the first plaintiff in the case, joined by prominent figures like Ayo Adebanjo and John Nwodo, representing various regional and ethnic organizations. The elder statesman emphasized the unity and resolve of the SMBLF in fighting for justice and equitable development across all regions of Nigeria.
Hear him: "We discovered that during the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari, he committed a lot of offences. He breached the Constitution and he didn’t care. He was very nepotistic, developing only the Fulani and the Hausa areas at the expense of the south. And the federal character, which is entrenched in the constitution of Nigeria, he did not obey it. So we decided to go to court. I was the first plaintiff of that case. And people like Ayo Adebanjo, head of Afenifere were there, Fasoranti was number two plaintiff. Both of them represented Afenifere. Then you have John Nwodo, President of Ohaneze then, was there and many others, then Dan Suleiman from the North and others."