Middle Belt Demands 2019 Presidency
BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The people of the Middle Belt on Tuesday demanded to produce the president of Nigeria come 2019.
This was a part of the decisions reached by the Middle Belt Leaders’ Conference and inauguration of New Executives for the Middle Belt Forum in Abuja.
According to the communique, there is need for the region to solicit the support of other zones in the country for its presidential aspiration and work towards achieving the goal.
Identifying the need for unity of purpose, the Forum urged members to eschew bickering and embrace unity amongst its people to move the region forward.
The communiqué also harped on economic empowerment for people of the region, saying without such; political power would be illusive and unattainable.
Guest speaker at the occasion, Professor Yusufu Turaki, described the Middle Belt region as comprising Northern Christian-Muslim and Traditionalists, who do not belong to the Hausa-Fulani group, stressing that for the region to move forward, there must be strong collaboration among all these segments.
Speaking on ‘The political question of the Middle Belt in Nigerian politics’, Turaki said the oppressive arrangement which the Middle Belt found itself is a product of British colonialsism; home grown oppressive system as practised by the Northern hegemony; the role of past military regime; and the continued attempts by present day politicians who are ignorant of happenings in politics.
The scholar charged Middle Belt politicians to be assertive and demand from what belongs to them, adding that concerted efforts must be deployed to awaken the people’s consciousness to achieve the region’s overall objectives and interest.
The event witnessed the swearing of the new MBF executives led by Dr Bala J. Takaya. Other officers inaugurated to manage the Forum’s affairs include: National Secretary – Mr. Benjamin Dikki; former Deputy Governor of Niger state, Sen Nuhu Zagbayi – Deputy National Secretary and Barr Mark Jacob as National Legal Adviser, among others
