Jonah Jang and the "phantom chair"

by Emmanuel Onwubiko

Events in the last few days in the political firmament of Nigeria clearly show that our so-called new breed politicians have not learnt any lessons from the nation's political experiences right from the first Republic when the same politicians through their greed and wanton disrespect for democratic tenets invited the military to destabilise the nascent democracy.

These political shenanigans and reactionary attitudes that reared its ugly head in the last few days reached a considerable crescendo with the petty squabbles that characterised the outcome of the hotly contested position of chairman of the controversial Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF).

In that election which took place at the weekend in Abuja, one person among the 36 State governors was expected to emerge to occupy the single chair of the chairman of the Governors Forum but at the end of the exercise two men emerged to claim the right to seat on that 'single chair'.

What emerged from the venue of that election is that the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi was re-elected and therefore is the bona fide leader of the Nigerian Governors' Forum. But the oldest man among the governors and the Plateau State helmsman Jonah Jang, a retired military officer who benefitted twice from some coup plotters to emerge as military governor, has also emerged as the second claimant to the chair of the Nigerian Governors' Forum but not without the groundswell of opinion that he indeed is occupying a 'phantom chair' since the bureaucrats at the Governors' Forum have indeed declared the Rivers State governor as the duly elected chairman.

There are two strands of opinions from this election which are diametrically opposed to each other and each of the proponents are holding on to their divisive positions regarding the accuracy of who indeed is the chairman of the Nigerian Governors' Forum.

Nigeria's most media 'friendly' Governor of Akwa Ibom State and a lawyer of several years of post call, Obong Godswill Akpabio, who was previously handpicked as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party's Governors' Forum is at the head of those governors championing the claim that Jonah Jang is the rightful occupant of the chair of the Nigerian Governors' Forum.

Others who have supported him but are not active members of his political platform are the Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the Anambra State governor Mr. Peter Obi. But the illogicality in their claim is that those who went into political battle and got bruised cannot at the same time lay claim to impartiality and therefore cannot be seen to play the role of an unbiased umpire. So their claim falls flat on its face irredeemably.

The second strand of argument led by the Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi is the one that maintains that the Rivers State governor is the real and only winner and therefore the rightful occupant of the only chair of the Nigerian Governors' Forum.

This opinion finds favour with critics and other independent stakeholders who believe that since their claim corresponds factually and substantially with the position of the unbiased umpire and the Executive Director of the Nigerian Governors' Forum, it is therefore very likely that they are right.

An interesting dimension is that Jonah Jang's occupation of what looks like a 'phantom' chair is said to have been endorsed by the Abuja Headmaster and the President of the Federal Republic Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who was in Ethiopia to celebrate the golden jubilee of the African Union. From Ethiopia, the President was quoted conspicuously in the media as saying that his name brings 'good luck' to Nigeria.

The trouble I have in accepting this presidential verdict of goodluck is that his candidate for the Nigerian Governors' Forum headship [Jonah Jang] did not seem to have benefitted from the 'good luck' that flows from our President's name [whatever that means].

Back to the issues relating to the actual election, Nigerians were told by the returning and/or presiding officer and the head of the forum's bureaucracy, at the election that Governor Amaechi of Rivers State defeated Jonah Jang of Plateau with 19 votes to 16.

However, Jang's supporters said the entire body of PDP governors endorsed the candidacy of Jonah Jang prior to the election. But elementary logic and common sense tell us that endorsement prior to actual election is different from the real election. For instance, before the kickoff of the European football league championship in Wembley Stadium in England between Bayern Munich and Borusia Dortmund, all of Germany and some of us endorsed Borusia Dortmund and prayed fervently that the team emerges victorious but our hope faded when Bayern Munich defeated our endorsed team. Do we then cry blue murder because our beloved and endorsed team did not win?

Who told the PDP governors that in secret balloting, some of those who had consented to a group accord may not betray the consensus and go for their own consciences instead because they are not robotic items to be remote controlled from somewhere?

My sincere advice to governor Jang who is called "Baba" (meaning father) by his political supporters in Plateau is that he should fully concentrate on governing Plateau State given that the beautiful state of Plateau has more than its own fair share of troubles. Inter-ethnic and inter-religious crises are tearing that most beautiful State in Nigeria apart even as terrorists have severally targeted Plateau State because of what it represents in the North. Plateau is home to the largest Christian and ethnic minority population in Northern Nigeria and is therefore a target for destabilisation by anarchists who parade as religious fundamentalists of the opposing religion to the dominant religion of the people of Plateau State.

Please Baba Jonah Jang govern Plateau well and leave the political intrigues of Nigerian Governors' Forum alone for young men to contend with. When young men are engaged in hot debates, it is a sacrilege to find an elder statesman also take side in such argument because this biased intervention may rob off on his good reputation as a statesman who should remain as completely detached and unbiased as he possibly can.

Although the President through his spokesperson has denied nursing ambition to crown his own stooge as chairman of Nigerian Governors' Forum, the fact that Jonah Jang proceeded to pay a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa to meet with the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, whereupon he was introduced as chairman of Nigerian Governors' Forum clearly shows that President Jonathan has interest in the entire scenario.

The opposition Action Congress of Nigeria has raised alarm that the rejection of the result of the election of the Nigerian Governors' Forum by the Peoples Democratic Party is a dangerous dress rehearsal of what will happen in the much talked about 2015 election.

My take is this: President Jonathan has pledged to conduct free and fair general elections in 2015 even though he hasn't indicated if he will participate as a presidential candidate or not.

I am prepared to give Mr. President the benefit of the doubt. The Peoples Democratic Party or indeed the opposition political platform must know that Nigerians will spontaneously embark on revolutionary revolts should the electoral commission deny the majority of Nigerians, the fruit of a transparent outcome of the 2015 election.

by Emmanuel Onwubiko

http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/index.php

JANG COMMISSIONS NEW NGF SECRETARIAT

The Governor Jonah Jang faction of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, has commissioned its secretariat in the Maitama District of Abuja.

The secretariat, a butter colour two-storey building, located at No 2, Nana Street, Maitama District, was officially opened by Mr. Jang, Plateau State Governor, and his self-appointed NGF Vice Chairman, Olusegun Mimiko, the Ondo State Governor.

Altogether, 14 state governors and two deputies were present at the event. The governors present include those of Kaduna, Kogi, Abia, Katsina, Ondo, Plateau, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Ebonyi and Taraba States. The deputy governors present were those of Benue and Gombe States.

NGF, an association of the 36 state governors in Nigeria was fictionalized Friday, 24 May 2013, when 18 governors refused to accept the re-election of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as chairman. Mr. Amaechi defeated Mr. Jang  by 19 votes to 16 to emerge chairman.

Vice President Namadi Sambo was not present as expected.

http://premiumtimesng.com/?p=136983

WHO IS AFTER KAZE?

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/who-after-kaze-/148756/ 28 May 2013

Hon. Bitrus Kaze

Allegations of planned assassination of a member of the House of Representatives from Plateau State, Hon. Bitrus Kaze, has elicited a growing concern in the state, writes Seriki Adinoyi

The House of Representatives member from Jos South/Jos Eastconstituency, Hon. Bitrus Kaze, is unarguably one of the most audacious representatives from the state in the National Assembly. His penchant for defending the oppressed, especially the Plateau people that he represents can hardly be faulted. No wonder the people of his constituency returned him to the House with an overwhelming support in the 2011 elections.

On several occasions, Kaze had protested the injustice done to his constituency, and the general public. On several times, he had resigned his appointment as deputy chairman, House committee on Climate Change in protest of the injustice done to his people during
the period Plateau suffered repeated crises. Kaze once disagreed with the leadership of the House when he accused it of taking side in the sectarian crisis in Jos, the Plateau State capital. He noted that the then Speaker, Dimeji Bankole and his Deputy, Nafada had attended to the Jos crisis in such manner that put to question, their neutrality.

Kaze had also stood his ground to challenge the Major General Maina-led Special Task Force (STF) over its alleged complicity in the
Jos crisis that saw hundreds of his people dead in its wake. “It has done incalculable damage to the image of the military and particularly the Special Task Force (STF) on the Plateau,” he said at the time. Interestingly, when the need arose to commend the military, Kaze did not hold back. He said there were commendable traits in the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Azubike Ihejirika and the then General Officer Commanding, 3, Division, Jos, Major General Sunday Idoko, “for the different approaches their regime gave the Jos crisis”.

His approach to issues was blunt, irrespective of who was involved. All he wanted was justice. This informed why he once said “it would be better that I don’t eat throughout a day than to see injustice done to any people and refuse to condemn it.” His constituents, and indeed the Plateau people love him for this.

They have repeatedly identified him as one of the trusted voices the state has in the National Assembly. But to him, he was just doing what he was elected to do.

Unfortunately, this may have come with a price. His recent stand against amnesty for the Boko Haram sect was probably one of the reasons he has continued to attract the rage of some Northern elders, who had canvassed amnesty for the sect. “The call, coming at a time when security reports from terrorists’ training camps in Mali have established links between Boko Haram and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the advocacy for amnesty in favour of Boko Haram offends the Nigerian Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011, which provides for effective implementation of the several international conventions on the Prevention, Financing and Combating of Terrorism to which Nigeria is a signatory,” he said.

He cited the constitution as making provision for the security and welfare of the people as the primary focus of government. “President Goodluck Jonathan has an obligation to enforce all international conventions on terrorism, none of which provides for amnesty to terrorists.” He noted that the terrorist group itself had declined amnesty and queried why the Sultan and the Northern Governors Forum kept crying more than the bereaved.

Rather than worry about the over 3,000 families that had been murdered by the Islamic sect, Kaze was worried that the Northern Governors Forum was concerned only about the pioneer leader of the sect, late
Mohammed Yusuf.

“Unsatisfied with the whooping N100m compensation paid to the family of the late Mohammed Yusuf alone, the Northern Governors Forum has recommended that the protracted court case against the suspected killers of the pioneer Boko Haram leader should be brought to a quick determination, without making any mention, whatsoever, of the over 3000 families across the nation, whose kith and kin had been brutally murdered by Mohammed Yusuf and his disciples.”

But since racing against the Sultan and the Northern governors, the lawmaker claimed not to have known peace. He was immediately
challenged by a prince of the Caliphate and a serving Senator of the federal Republic, Senator Maccido, who warned Kaze not speak about the Sultan in such a manner.

“I am telling him in strong words that he should either retract his words or apologise in person to the Sultan. I will also repeat it that he should be careful with his statement.” But Kaze would not yield to this and indeed, other warnings because he believed that the right must be done and the wrong, condemned irrespective of who was behind it.

What thereafter followed was the allegation by people on the aegis of Vigilant Democrats that Kaze narrowly escaped assassination in Jos. The group had raised the alarm, saying that the enemies of peace in Plateau had upgraded terror tactics aimed at plunging the state into more confusion. They also alleged that over 30 foreign trained kidnappers and assassins had been deployed into Jos and environs. Spokesman of the  group, Jonathan Pwajok,  said the targets of the mercenaries are traditional and political leaders in the state including the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Buba Gyang;  the Gwom Rwei of Barkin Ladi, the chairman of Barkin Ladi Emmauel Loman and any of Governor Jonah Jang’s sons, particularly Yakubu and of course, Kaze.

“We are aware that between 1pm and 2pm on the 22nd of April, a gang of hired assassins acting on a tip-off from two prominent politicians in Jos trailed Hon. Bitrus Kaze in an unmarked Brown Vectra car from his house to UTC Junction, along Murtala Mohammed way, Jos. All the four occupants of the brown Vectra except one were foreign nationals; three of them were armed with FN assault rifles and were on a mission to Kidnap and subsequently assassinate him (Kaze).

“The assassins set out from a place of worship in Rafin Pa and were able to track Hon Kaze’s car with the help of the former local
government chieftain, who monitored and reported his movements to the assassins shortly after he (Kaze) drove out of his house. They had copy of the official number plate of the car Kaze was driving.”

According to the group, it was by sheer providence that the lawmaker escaped the assassins when he drove to the military checkpoint at the UTC Junction along Murtala Mohammed Way, where he packed and remained inside his car for over 20 minutes, not knowing that the assassins were trailing him.

The group, therefore, condemned “the callous attempt to permanently shut out and silence our elected leaders,” adding that it was barely one year when the state was thrown into mourning after the brutal murder of two of its prominent sons: Senator Gyang Dangtong and Hon Gyang Fulani.

While appreciating the efforts of the security operatives in the state in protecting lives and properties, Vigilant Democrats said it was baffled “how an unmarked car, with occupants armed to the teeth, could traverse the city of Jos from Rafin Pa at Corner Shagari to as far as UTC Junction brandishing weapons without being detected and arrested notwithstanding the numerous military check points. Though he was lucky to have escaped, he is now being cautioned him to tread carefully to avoid being attacked. But Kaze who differed would rather express himself than watch things go awry.

NGF CHAIRMANSHIP ELECTIONS - FAYEMI, EKITI STATE GOV's STATEMENT

Culled from Sahara Reporters

Pro-Jonathan Governors

The attention of the leadership of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has been drawn to the distortion of the events leading to the election of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as Chairman of the Forum at its election held in Abuja on Friday.
 
We are particularly worried about the deliberate misrepresentation of events at the election in the media by some members of the Forum in the bid to justify the setting up of a parallel group, following the defeat of Governor Jonah Jang in the keenly contested chairmanship election.
 
While we are not interested in joining issues with the Pro-Jang group in their smear campaign in the media, we feel compelled to correct some of the negative impressions being created in the minds of unsuspecting members of the public through a pot pourri of fabricated stories and outright lies.
 
It is on record that all the 35 governors present voted and there is an electronic evidence of this, and Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan served as the Returning Officer in the Friday election that produced Governor Amaechi as chairman of NGF.
 
Whereas the pro-Jang group had reportedly premised their position on earlier endorsement of Governor Jang’s candidature by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum and the Northern Governors Forum, it suffices to state without any fear of contradiction that endorsement of a candidate does not translate to actual votes in any election.
 
And even if they want to claim it as the result of the election, how come it was originally dated April and  contained the names of Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State and Governor Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State who were absent ?
 
A candidate can have countless endorsements ahead of an election, but electoral victory is determined mainly by the number of votes he is able to garner at the election.
 
Having won the election, Governor Amaechi had demonstrated statesmanship by making his acceptance speech, which dwelled on his readiness to work with his opponent, Governor Jang and the need for the governors to work with the President of the Country, Dr Goodluck Jonathan in moving the country forward.
 
Contrary to the rather bizarre position being canvassed by the pro-Jang group, we do not see any reason for us to demonstrate that we won the election. The results of the election, as announced by the electoral officer is clear on the victory of Governor Amaechi. Rushing to Abuja to create the impression of being the so-called authentic Governors’ Forum is not only childish but petty.
 
At an appropriate time, a meeting of the Forum will be convened. For now, we are busy concentrating on our developmental works in our individual states rather than indulging in smear campaigns and distortions.
 
We implore members of the public not to be hoodwinked by these deliberate distortions in the media. We also urge the media to help enlighten the public on the issues at stake in a bid to build a more enduring democracy.
 
Signed:
Dr Kayode Fayemi
Governor, Ekiti State

KWANKWASO BLAMES GOVT, SOCIETY FOR NIGERIA'S INSECURITY

Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State

THE MOST TRUTHFUL WORDS THAT HAVE COME FROM A NIGERIAN LEADER I HAVE HEARD OF LATE. PLEASE GIVE THEM DEEP THOUGHT.

Kano Governor, Kwankwaso, Blames Government And Society For Nigeria’s Insecurity
By SaharaReporters, New York.

Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State yesterday took a critical look at the insecurity in the country, and divided the blame between governments, politicians, traditional rulers and religious leaders, parents, and communities.

“We are all guilty,” was his verdict.

Kwankwaso was speaking at a meeting with the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of security challenges in the North, aka Amnesty Committee. He traced the security problem to the failure of the nation’s leaders to take full responsibility of governance and offer the dividends of democracy to the people.

He also regretted that family values are no longer being upheld. “Parents no longer take responsibility of their family,” he said.

In a statement with important implications for the lifestyle in the North, he said, “We have a situation in this part of the country where parents give birth to 20 to 30 children, chose only two out of them and send the rest away to God knows where.

“Children are sent to places that they don’t know. They are left to fend for themselves. We have a situation where you go round the city and find garrison of children—able-bodied youths begging.”

He said that having been abandoned by their parents, those children “grow up to hate themselves, hate their parents, hate the leaders, hate the government and the society. They feel they were deprived, they feel injustice and they become enemies of the state and constituted authorities; and thereby becoming vulnerable to crime and violence.”

According to the governor, “These are the bitter pills we must swallow—that we are all guilty of what is happening today. We have to wake up and rise up to the challenges. What started in Yobe and Borno is everywhere in the North, it may eventually envelope the country if we don’t check it now. It is a national issue that must be addressed.”

Beroms sue Nigerian security agencies for N502bn

Special Task Force [Photo: sweetcrudereports.com]

The Beroms in Plateau on Wednesday sued security agencies at a Federal High Court in Jos for allegedly failing to protect them in the wake of attacks in their domains.

Rwang Dantong, the brother of late Senator Gyang Dantong, on behalf of himself and the Berom community in Barkin Ladi, Jos South, Riyom and Jos North local governments of the state, filed the suit, demanding for N501.8 billion as general damage.

Mr. Datong, in the application filed before Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal Court I, alleged that acts of genocide or pogrom were visited on them “under the watchful eyes of the security agencies”.

Joined in the suit was the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

The security agencies are the Police, Special Task Force, Army, Air Force, Navy and Directorate of State Security, SSS.

The community, through its counsel, Gyang Zi, urged the court to hold the security agencies and their employer, the Federal Government, responsible for “all the atrocities that befell them over the years”.

The Beroms alleged that 1,193 estimated men, women and children were killed while 3,250 were “injured and incapacitated during the ethnic cleansing by Fulani marauders,” due to dereliction of duty of security agencies.

The suit also alleged, among others, that 854 houses and 150 vehicles were burnt while 13,100 cows, 10,040 goats, sheep and 17,000 chickens were destroyed.

The plaintiffs said they have a right to live and be protected by the security agents and asked the court to order them to fulfill their constitutional duty of protecting them as citizens of Nigeria.

When the case, which was slated for mention, came up, the Registrar of the Court announced the absence of the judge due to ill health and the adjourned the case to May 23.

Addressing newsmen shortly after leaving the court room, Mr. Zi said the adjournment would afford him the opportunity to make some slight amendments in the suit.

“We are prepared to prosecute this case to its logical conclusion due to its weight and the plight of Beroms in the wake of the crises on the Plateau over the years,” he said.

The defendants were not represented at the court.

(NAN)

Premium Times, Published: May 15,2013

JOS COURT DISMISSES CASE AGAINST SECURITY AGENTS

A Jos Federal High Court on yesterday dismissed a case of negligence brought against security agencies by some victims of 2011 attack at Rukuba road, Jos.

One Mohammed Abdullahi and 10 others had filed a suit on behalf of 27 others before Justice Ambrose Allagoa claiming that they were attacked by some miscreants on Sallah day, on August 29, 2011 at praying ground where scores of them were killed.

The plaintiffs through their counsel, Mr. Hassan Liman (SAN) claimed that during the attack they sustained injuries while some lost their lives and property worth millions of naira.

“My Lord, the loss and injuries suffered were as a result of the failure of the security agencies to perform their constitutional duties of protecting the lives and property of citizens of this country. Contrary to section 14 (2)(b) of 1999 constitution as amended, the security agencies; the Special Task Force (STF), Police, Army, the Directorate of the State Security Service (SSS), Navy, Air Force among others did not protect them. For failure to protect my clients and others on that day amounts to negligence of duty, and should be compelled to take responsibility,” he said.

Liman prayed the court to compel the federal government and its agencies to pay his clients N100 million as general damages and N280, 000 being expenses incurred on treatment of injuries sustained during the attack.

But the Counsel to the security agencies and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Ali Zachariah, objected to the claims saying that the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the case.

According to him, “My Lord, by virtue of section 251 of 1999 Constitution, the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain this suit on the tort of negligence. The issue of general welfare and security of the citizens of Nigeria has not been legislated upon by the National Assembly for the plaintiff to accuse my clients of negligence.”

Zachariah prayed the court to dismiss the entire case for lack of merit.

Allagoa, in his ruling, struck out the case for lack of merits. “This case didn’t fall within the purview of section 251 (1) of 1999 Constitution in view of the proviso therein. Therefore, this court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain this matter. Since the case was not brought in a way of writ of summons, it is hereby struck out.”

He further said that by virtue of that ruling, three similar cases before him had collapsed and therefore dismissed.

Shortly after the ruling, Zachariah told journalists that he was satisfied with the ruling and described it as “well thought out ruling.”

But Liman, who spoke through Mr. Aliyu Sange, said “we are heading to the court of appeal to challenge this ruling, which is a miscarriage of justice.”

SCAN NEWS

FULANI ATTACKS: 10,000 PERSONS DISPLACED IN BENUE STATE

Over 10,000 persons are said to been displaced following Sunday’s invasion of Ekwo-Okpachanyi village in Agatu local government of Benue State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The State Commissioner for Works/Transport Mr. John Ngbede who is also an indigene of Agatu disclosed this to newsmen yesterday in his office; stating that more than 13 communities have been sacked.

He added that many people have fled the area while several others are now taking refuge in neighboring Ojantele and Ugboko villages in Apa LGA.

Mr. Ngbede who lamented over the attack on his people, maintained that they have never had any misunderstanding with the Fulani people and wondered what could have caused the recent attack.

Commenting on allegation by the Secretary of Miyetti Allah Garos Gololo that the Fulani herdsmen carried out the attack as a reprisal for their over 550 missing cows, he denied the claims as false and mischievous.

“Our people are not thieves. We did not steal their cow”, Ngbede said.

He appreciated the prompt response of the State government in sending relief materials to the displaced persons and also urged National Emergency Relief Management Agency, NEMA to come to the aid of the people with materials to alleviate their sufferings.

The Works Commissioner also called for deployment of more security operatives in the area to avert any further attacks. SCAN NEWS.

MIDDLE BELT not part of POLITICAL NORTH

R*E*V*E*A*L*E*D!
"They Tricked us Into Fighting Igbos During Civil War" - Middle Belt Group.

**We Are Not Part of Northern Nigeria.
**if it is time to make use of numbers, our population, they say yes we are relevant. After that; no we are no more relevant.'
**'Whenever there is riot in the north, it affects us. Our people run like any other southerner. When they killed youth corps members, they brought 2 to Kogi. So, if Kogi is north, then why is north burying their children?'

THE United Middle Belt Youth Congress (UMBYC), a group at the forefront of mapping out the North Central geopolitical zone as Middle Belt has lampooned the north for lining up soldiers from the zone against the Igbos during the Nigerian civil war.

They said the core north easily achieved this by exploiting the command structure of the military and manufacturing fear that Biafra is out to overrun them.

"We know the ignorant years that have passed when we went to war. When they mobilised us to war and told us 'ah they want to terminate you people. The Igbos are majority and in fact they are coming to swallow you people'"

"A lot of us went to the bush to fight. I know how many families of our brothers that we lost in that war. Not to talk about our other brothers, the Igbos who we went to fight ignorantly."

The president-general, Abuka Omababa disclosed this during a courtesy visit of the group to The Moment in Ogudu, Lagos recently saying that the hackneyed concept of 'one north' was also crafted with the connivance of the British to mislead the rest of the country into believing an existence of a gigantic and awesome 'north'.

He added that while it was disheartening enough that they were manipulated into a fratricidal war with the Igbo, the Hausa/Fulani 'were in Sokoto and Kano relaxing and watching the two of us kill each other.'

The group consequently declared that the days they were play-thing in the hands of 'the North' are over for good. They therefore extend a hand of fellowship to other ethnic nationality groups in Nigeria saying that 'without us there is no north; no Middle Belt, no North. If we remove ourselves they are disconnected from Nigeria. So we are the bridge. We have served as the bridge.'

The group said that serial cases of religious intolerance in the north are championed by the Hausa/Fulani who are moulded to perceive non-Muslim practitioners with distaste. They dissociated the Middle Belt from it saying they see others as members of a single humanity rather than with religious or other colourations.

'Prior to the coming of the British, we were occupying our land. We are democratic. We are freethinkers in our various nationalities. If you see a Langtang family; they may have one Muslim, one Christian and one pagan; they cohabit and you will not know the difference.'

'Whenever there is riot in the north, it affects us. Our people run like any other southerner. If you look at these youth corps members that were killed, they brought two to Kogi. So, if Kogi is north, then why is north burying their children?'

Though they blamed the British for grouping and lumping them together with the north, they were insistent that the Middle Belt is not north. Thus, they ask for the official regrouping of Nigeria where they are recognised as distinct federating unit.

'We want our identity to be known. We want to bear our name. We don't want to be covered again...we have the right to determine our own identity.... And we have decided that we are going to do it legitimately. We want to be officially regrouped as Middle Belt region.

'We have the Niger Delta that has been officially regrouped. They are minorities in the south like we are minorities lumped into the north.'

They maintain that gone are the days when they are used as a buffer to protect and comfort the north. They did not see any reason why they would only be used by the north to gather votes during election, and food during scarcity but discarded just as soon as the 'hegemonic' north is satisfied.

'Our resources and land remain closed under the northern Nigeria. And what they do is; if it is time to make use of numbers, our population, they say yes we are relevant. After that; no we are no more relevant.'

'Thanks to the struggle of June 12 which brought President Olusegun Obasanjo to power in 1999. While making appointments he brought General Victor Malu as Chief of Army Staff, Saliu Ibrahim and the rest, then, the north through late Alhaji Wada Nas rose and said that these people do not represent northern interest.

'It is a clear thing that we do not belong there. We want to be separate people, and so shall it be.'

They went on to reiterate their backing to the evolution of a fiscal federalism where the federating units will control the resources in their geographical sphere.

'Make the centre less attractive, so that if you are going there, it is for service. We from the Middle Belt, we will pay our taxes. They should leave Ajaokuta for us; they should leave all those gold, columbite, timber and other solid minerals found in the Middle Belt for us to develop our community.

'What we are saying is that they have concentrated too much power at the centre which is the reason everybody wants to kill others in order to get there. Every region will have to pay tax to the Federal Government.'

Then they upped the ante with some other bold demands.

'We said we need our own 13 per cent from electricity. We need 13 per cent from Ajaokuta, from solid minerals coming from Middle Belt, even from our food. If you see the level of farm work going on in the Middle Belt, you will see why we agitate for Farming Development Commission to provide modern equipment and health facilities.

'Give us also HYPODEC - Hydropower Development Commission - which Jonathan has already granted and signed into law but has not constituted the board.'

While tracing the history of their struggle for identity, they say that at great cost their progenitors like Ameh Oboni, David Lot and JS Tarka had kick-started this resistance which people like Paul Unongo had continued.

They say that while they remain in touch with their parent body - United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC) - they are determined to add youthful vigour to it, and facilitate the realisation of their dreams of emancipation from northern hegemony and resource control.

'The issue of Middle Belt identity started with the late Ameh Oboni and Attah of Igala. At the northern emirs' meeting, when the Sultan of Sokoto and the rest came, he was told to remove his cap; he said no that the Hausa/Fulani has never been commanders of Igala, and Igalas has never bowed down to them.

'So they threatened that they will show him where he belongs at the next meeting; he too retorted he will show them where they belong. At the next meeting, they insisted and forcefully removed his cap, from which emanated stinging bees that disrupted the meeting. All the emirs ran away except him. But that is the local way of struggling against the domination of the Hausa/Fulani.

'Late Dr. JS Tarka and Paul Unongo, because they were educated, brought it to international attention through the UMBC - United Middle Belt Congress of those days. So the struggle for Middle Belt identity has been on.

They added that when Usman Dan Fodio came with a jihad in 1804, he conquered Kastina, Sokoto and Kano but could not conquer the Lantang and the Birong peoples of Plateau. He was also said not to have defeated Taraba when the state comprised Igala, Jukuns and Tiv peoples.

'He could not conquer us. He could not conquer Middle Belt. So when the British were going they said that these people are difficult to conquer in war, so give them indirect rule system. Co-opt them through the Atta of Igala, through the Gbomgbom of Jos. That is how the British played us to the monolithic north' the group's president-general explained.

The Moment's Editor in charge of daily operations, Martin Azuwike who received the group urged them to continue in the part of non-violent struggle. He said that the nation has so much security concerns which if they resort to violence, Nigeria will have more than a mouthful to chew.

He also said the newspaper will always report their activities with a sense of balance and fairness to others. - United Middle Belt Youth Congress.

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North will not support Jonathan in 2015 - Kaze

VANGUARD, MAY 6, 2013 By Taye Obateru

Member representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Bitrus Kaze, has  said the North would not support President Goodluck Jonathan’s ambition to return in 2015 no matter how much he strives to please them.

He said in a statement in Jos, Monday, that although many of the President’s recent steps, such as the release of funds for payment of compensation of victims of the 2011 post election violence appeared targeted at appeasing the North, this would not make them support his come back bid.

According to him, “We are tempted to believe that this gesture could be in furtherance of Mr. President’s attempt to appease the North, who, it must be maintained, will never support his re-election ambition in the long run. 

“If President Goodluck Jonathan is truly desirous of placating the North, all he needs do is to abandon his re-election ambition or better still step aside and hand over power to a far Northerner, nothing else will impress the core North more.”

Kaze faulted the decision of the Federal Government to compensate victims of the 2011 post election violence without extending the same gesture to victims of violent attacks in Plateau State.

He said Plateau State has suffered huge losses in human and material terms but had not been considered for any special allocation to ease the pains of the people despite the support given to President Jonathan in the last election in the state.

 ”We will not grow weary of telling the world that Plateau State gave President Goodluck the highest percentage of votes compared to any State in the whole North, it is inexplicably painful trying to fathom any logic behind his repeated decisions to pay Plateau State in very bad coins.

“Repeated massacres and invasions by mercenaries among whom are foreign nationals armed with sophisticated weapons have led to unquantifiable losses on the Plateau, including the brutal murder of a serving Senator and Member of the State Assembly, Dr. Gyang Dalyop Dantong and Hon. Gyang Fulani respectively” he said.

Kaze added, “Whereas both the Defense Headquarters and the office of the National Security Adviser made averments to the effect that it was the insurgents that triggered and perpetrated the violence in Baga; in the Plateau State for example, in Dogo Na Hawa alone over 500 innocent lives of mostly women and children were destroyed in cold blood overnight in March 2010 without any of provocation whatsoever. This is in addition to billions of Naira worth of properties lost in the attack.

“Yet, since the formation of the Security Task Force in January 2009 to curb violence on the Plateau, the Government of President Goodluck Jonathan has not offered a dime in aid to the state that has endured internecine violence for years”.

TIME TO TAME FULANI HERDSMEN

PUNCH, MAY 10, 2013 BY OKHENAIYE BARNABAS 

 The brutal killings by Fulani herdsmen are fast increasing the worsening insecurity in the land. From Akwa Ibom to Edo, Delta, Benue states, etc, the story is the same. Fulani cattle have evaded everywhere destroying farms across the nation. The recent killing of 10 youths in Ughelli, Delta State on February 25 and the invasion of residents of Ajir town in Benue State where 13 passengers were attacked on April 9, killing nine and murdering the mother of a three-weeks-old baby, is one killing too many. The Fulani herdsmen have infiltrated every town and village across the country destroying farmland in the process. When challenged, they always throw caution to the wind killing and maiming anybody in sight. I know in Nigeria, we do not value life hence anybody can kill at will. The above incidents are just among many unreported killings by the same group. It is time to tame these herdsmen who are bent on violating existing laws by leaving far north to invade people’s farms in the west, east and south. Government must act now and fast too to avoid more killings.

Jos crisis: One killed as Berom, Fulani peace pact flops

PUNCH, May 6, 2013 by Jude Owuamanam
The fragile peace pact signed between the Fulani and their Berom neighbours suffered a setback on Sunday with the alleged beheading of a Berom man by suspected Fulani herdsmen. Security agencies in the state, in conjunction with the Senator, representing the Northern zone, Mr. Gyang Pwajok, have had several peace meetings with the representatives of the two warring groups in the past three weeks with the aim of bringing an end to the spate of killings in the northern senatorial zone, especially in Riyom, Jos South and Barakin Ladi local government areas.