*Their Appointments Do Not Reflect Federal Character, They Say
*’Take Trump’s CPC Designation As Hint To Urgently Terminate Killings’
*Free Nnamdi Kanu By Fiat, They Urge
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
National Caucus of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) rose from a meeting of “urgent national importance” and called on President Bola Tinubu to remove National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, as part of his administration’s continuation of reform of the nation’s security architecture.
The reforms have already led to the removal and replacement of the last set of service chiefs, including Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Chris Musa.
SMBLF said while it acknowledged the recent reshuffling of service chiefs and welcomed the appointment of new ones, the Forum urged the President to sack the NSA and both Defence Ministers, all of whom, it stressed, are presently from one section of the country –the far North.
SMBLF added that doing so will not only ensure a comprehensive overhaul of the national defence architecture but also reflect the country’s diversity.
According to a communique from the meeting, which held on 1 November, 2025, and was made available to journalists in Kaduna on Tuesday, 4 November, the Forum stated the need for presidential action.
The communique was signed by Afenifere leader, HRM Oba Oladipo Olaitan; President, Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr. Bitrus Pogu; President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata; and National Chairman, Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Igali.
SMBLF, in the communique, also noted with “very serious concern” the designation by US President Donald Trump of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over what the American leader described as religious persecution against Christians.
While the Forum affirmed its opposition to any unsolicited foreign military intervention in Nigeria on any matter, it, however, considered the CPC designation as a wake-up call on the Federal Government (FG) to pursue with a sense of urgency and responsibility, a halt to the “ongoing mayhem and killings.”
SMBLF added: “Furthermore, it also urged FG to face the issues on ground by disarming and prosecuting the known militias and killer herdsmen and Islamist terrorists responsible for this, and restore occupied lands to their rightful owners of all faiths and ethnic nationalities especially in Benue, Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Taraba, Gombe, Southern Bornu, Southern Kebbi and all over the rest of the country.”
‘Release Nnamdi Kanu By Govt Fiat’
On the matter of detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, SMBLF restated its “commitment to the unity and continued coexistence of the Nigerian Federation wherein every citizen and constituent ethnic nationality will be equally respected and have genuine sense of belonging, and thus disapproves of every agitation for its dismemberment.”
The group, however, added: “SMBLF recalls that the agitation of Nnamdi Kanu and his group was initially peaceful but essentially radicalized by ill-advised and excessive military responses codenamed ‘Operations Crocodile Smile’ and ‘Python Dance’ by the erstwhile Buhari administration, leading to Kanu fleeing Nigeria, his arrest in Kenya, return to Nigeria in 2021 and unending prosecution since then.
“SMBLF notes that the agitation for the release of Nnamdi Kanu remains unabated and, without prejudice to his ongoing trial in court, reiterates our call that the President, as the father of the nation, adopts a nationalist approach by which the Attorney-General of the Federation is empowered to set necessary constitutional machinery to effect Nnamdi Kanu’s release.
“SMBLF reiterates that the release of Nnamdi Kanu will be a salutary directive in the interest of the most needed national rehabilitation and peace.”
Turning to the 2027 presidential election, “SMBLF recalled its decision in 2021 that the President of Nigeria in the 2023 election should be from the Southern part of the country in demonstration of our commitment to restructuring and national stability and now further resolves that the decision should remain applicable to the 2027 Presidential Election for the same reasons.
“SMBLF notes the decisions of some of the political parties in line with this now-established national political culture, and enjoins all political parties and actors to respect same.”
