By Emma Okereh
A group whose soleinterest is to champion the cause of southerners in Nigeria has emerged underthe aegis of Coalition of Southern Groups.
A statement signed bythe convener of the group, Victor Chikwendu at the weekend in Port Harcourt,explained that the group is a coalition of over thirty political pressuregroups that cut across party lines in southern Nigeria.
It further clarifiedthat members of the group which cut across the two Nigerian major politicalparties, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC),came together with the sole aim of defending and protecting the rights andinterests of the south within the Nigerian entity.
It said the group atthe meeting over the weekend, ratified the positions zoned to differentgeo-political zone in the south as well as ratifying and adopting the convener,Mr Victor Chikwendu as its Director-General (South East) while Mr Fortune Oyadonghan takes the position of Chairman (SouthSouth) and Adejumo Ojo Ebeneezer as Secretary (South West).
Otherapproved positions to run the affairs of the group were also zoned thus. Head of Publicity and communication (SouthSouth), Head of Mobilisation and Organization (South East) and Headof Legal and Policies ( South West).
The grouphas pledged to collaborate with major political stakeholders irrespective ofpolitical leanings and targets.
Thestatement in part reads:
‘’Formation of Coalitionof Southern Groups meeting was convened by Victor Chikwendu on Saturday, the24th of July 2021 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State with representatives of over30 political pressure groups in All Progressives Congress (APC), PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) and other political fronts in attendance.
‘’The key aims andobjectives are to protect the interest of Southern Nigerians by building on equity,justice and fairness, to advocate for a secured political environment amongstthe Southern States of Nigeria through creation of awareness for peacefulintegration and to support the decisions and resolutions of the Southern StatesGovernors in its entirety.
The group after extensive deliberations resolved to worktogether for peace, social political growth and development in the SouthernStates of the Federation.
