Middle Belt Forum, Inaugurates Kogi Newly Elected Executives As Gov. Ahmed Ododo Warns Against Ethnic Politics
By Abubakar Suleman
The Middle Belt Forum, has Inaugurated Kogi state chapter of its newly elected executive members to steer the affairs of the association in the state.
The inauguration ceremony was held on Monday at the secretariat of Nigeria Union Journalists, NUJ, Press centre, Lokoja.
In his opening remarks, the National president of Middle Belt Forum, Dr. Bitrus Podu ably represented by the vice president, Mallam Idi Waziri encouraged the new executives to do all within their capacity to continue to promote their cultural heritage, ethnicity, tradition and languages, saying “it is only Kogi Indigenes in Abuja that speaks in their dialect openly”.
The president said, “Unity is key to achieving set goals, I thereby urge the new executives to bring everybody together, talk to all, and bring everyone under this association.
In his acceptance speech, the new chairman,
Mr. David Ehimony assured that the executives would do all they could to rejuvenate and reposition the association.
Ehimony thanked members and stakeholders of Middle Belt Forum for their support and promised to operate an open door policy and administration driven by equity, fairness and qualitative service delivery.
He said the new executive under his leadership will promote cooperation among all both at the national secretariat and among members in Kogi state, he however promised to play an active and visible role in the evolution of good governance in Kogi State, promote unity and networking among members.
In a similar development, Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has charged the National executive members of Middle Belt Forum to use it’s position to unite the middle belt states and Nigeria at large.
The governor who was represented by his deputy Elder Joel Salifu Oyibo, said the forum has the capacity, ability and the intellect to unified the diverse ethnic groups in the north central and the entire country.
According to him, “I therefore appeal 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 the consequence of ethnicity, religion in politics and the forum should try as much as possible to foster unity among the diverse ethnic groups in Kogi state” he stated
While assuring that the state government is very ready to collaborate with the middle belt forum to discharge its responsibilities, the governor urged them to rally round 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 the 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 middle belt to protect their cultures and nurture them to enable the younger ones knows their roots.
The Elected executive members are; Chairman, Hon. David Ehimony, Secretary, Alhaji Raji Usman, Treasurer, Hon. Awwal Imam, Financial Secretary, Hon. Elesho Abiodun, Woman Leader, Mrs Aturu Christiana, Comrade Adeiza MomohJimoh as Publicity secretary and Barr. Abdulraman Wuya as Legal Adviser.
