Ododo urges Middle Belt forum to unite Nigerians
Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has charged the Middle Belt Forum to use its position to unite the middle belt states and Nigeria.
Ododo gave the charge on Tuesday in his office in Lokoja when the forum’s national body led members of the newly inaugurated executive of the Kogi state chapter on a courtesy visit to the government house.
The governor who was represented by his deputy Joel Salifu Oyibo said the forum has the capacity, ability and intellect to unify the diverse ethnic groups in the north-central and the entire country.
“The forum is unique and has the ability to unite all the middle belt states and Nigeria in general. We must speak with one voice because where there is discord and crisis, there can never be development,” he said.
“I am appealing to the forum that what happened in the last governorship election in Kogi State where ethnicity was clearly introduced in the state politics should be looked into because such type of politics is capable of tearing the state apart.
“The forum should sensitize the people not only in Kogi but other states to the consequence of ethnicity, and religion in politics, and the forum should try as much as possible to foster unity among the diverse ethnic groups in Kogi state.”
READ ALSO:Ondo election: Ododo rallies Ebira community for Aiyedatiwa
While assuring that the state government is ready to collaborate with the middle belt forum to discharge its responsibilities, the governor urged them to rally around his administration for the betterment of the state.
Earlier, the president of the forum Bitrus Podu who was represented by his vice, Mallam Idi Waziri, said the national body was in Kogi to inaugurate the state’s chapter of the forum, saying the forum held the state in high esteem due to the peaceful nature of the state.
He appealed to the people of the Middle Belt to protect their cultures and nurture them to enable the younger ones to know their roots.
The newly inaugurated chairman of the Kogi state chapter of the Middle Belt Forum, David Ehimony, promised to sustain the struggle for the emancipation of the Middle Belt region and to ensure that the voices of the region is heard.
Ehimony assured that Kogi State will be in the vanguard for ensuring that the Middle Belt occupies its rightful place in the scheme of socio-economic development.
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.