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Kaduna crisis: MBF wants Buhari to set up commission of enquiry

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has reiterated its demand on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately set up a Commission of Enquiry into the causes of the unending killings in Kaduna State over time and the alleged show of partiality by the State Government in tackling the internecine crises.

In a communiqué signed by the President, Dr. Pogu Bitrus and the Chairman, Planning Committee, Mark Jacob, Esq on Monday during its extra-ordinary National Executive Committee at Akwanga, Nasarawa State, the forum appealed that the Federal Government should take full control of the situation in the state in order to avert further breakdown of law and order.

The MBF called on government and the security agencies to do everything within their powers to bring to book individuals accused of the kidnapping, forceful conversion and marriage of Christian girls in the Middle Belt, be they traditional rulers or other individuals.

The forum stated that majority of the people believe that “the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai’s dangerous religious and other identity manipulation; his earlier open confession to paying a group of foreign Fulani marauders responsible for the killings in Southern Kaduna.”

According to the forum, El-Rufai’s unabashed taking of side has made it impossible for the people of Kaduna state to have faith in his impartiality and fairness in addressing the conflict.

It called on “all members of autochthonous communities and other residents of Kaduna state should resist the antics of El–Rufai in playing sport with firebrand by the manipulation of identity tainted with political motive meant to divide and keep the people in perpetual penury and servitude.

“As a people brought together by the Almighty God, Nigerians of diverse ethnic, religious and regional backgrounds, we must unite to fight injustice, poverty, disease, illiteracy and ensure that those who profit from our collective misery are stopped in their tracks.

“Unfortunate and condemnable as the death of General Alkali and the 18 civilians killed in the latest Jos conflict, the Middle Belt Forum notes that the steps taken so far in the purported investigation have been carried out by the military in a manner characterized by harassment, torture and other violations of the rights of innocent citizens.

The Forum calls on the military to withdraw and hand over the investigation to the Nigeria Police that have the constitutional responsibility and expertise to do so.”

The peoples of the Middle Belt have both the duty and right to determine their political destiny, the forum stated.

It further stated that it shall, in consultation with relevant stakeholders to identify with one of the presidential candidates at the 2019 general elections to ensure that the interests and aspirations of the Middle Belt is properly addressed within the Nigerian Federation.

“The over 22 million registered voters in the Middle Belt Region are hereby enjoined to await further directives from our leaders.

The peoples of the Middle Belt demand that the governments of Nigeria at all levels adopt measures to protect citizens from gender-based discrimination and abuse, as well as the use of cultural practices to subjugate women and deny them full participation in the affairs of their communities and state,” the MBF added.

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Ihesiulo Grace

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