By Joseph Edegbo
The Kaduna State Chapter of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), has held its 2nd executive meeting under the new leadership headed by Comrade Luka Binniyat who delivered congratulatory and goodwill messages from the President of the Forum, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, .
According to him, Dr. Pogu regards the Kaduna State chapter as very critical in the scheme of the Forum, bearing in mind its strategic location in Nigeria and its cosmopolitan nature that accommodates a huge array of Middle Belters.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Yusuf Solomon Danbaki said the key item on the agenda of the meeting was the outreach to over 40 ethnic nationalities represented in various socio-cultural ethnic groups from the 14 Middle Belt States resident in Kaduna State and other 57 ethnic nationalities indigenous to Southern Kaduna, which make up the MBF, Kaduna State branch.
“The meeting, which was attended by 22 out of the 27 exco members, agreed that it was time members of the Middle Belt resident in Kaduna State unite as a common front in the interest of their wellbeing, the progress and development of Kaduna State, and Nigeria as a whole.
“With the permission of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the MBF, Barrister Catherine Doosuur Ishu from Benue State was nominated to serve as the Legal Adviser of the MBF, Kaduna State Chapter.
“There was also an initiative for an upcoming Middle Belt Cultural Festival for Middle Belters resident in Kaduna State, for which a committee was set up to kick-start the process. It is headed by the Organising Secretary of the Chapter, Hon. Ezekiel Babakarik. The aim is simply to celebrate the region’s rich cultural diversity, taking a break from lamenting the adversity that the Middle Belt has been plunged into for years now.
“During the meeting, concerns were raised about the planned peaceful protest scheduled for August 1st – 10th, 2024. “Reports reaching the exco indicated that foreigners from northern neighboring countries had already arrived in Kaduna State ready to join the demonstration and make it violent. If so, that will jeopardize the safety of the event and compromise the message of the demonstration. While the Kaduna State Chapter of the MBF acknowledges that peaceful demonstration is legitimate and necessary over the current hardships faced in the country and the need to draw government attention, the involvement of violent sponsored foreigners has raised genuine security concerns to the Chapter.
” Consequently, the forum advised all our youth from the Middle Belt resident in Kaduna State to refrain from participating in the protest not only over security and safety concerns, but not to be used to achieve the curious objectives of the sponsors.
“Our youths, known for their orderliness, civility, and discipline, must not be associated with inappropriate acts.
“The security situation has been reported to the national president of the MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, who is currently gathering feedbacks from other states of the Middle Belt before issuing an official position on behalf of the entire Middle Belters”, the statement concludes.