..Insist in supply to southerners
By Gabriel Udeh, kaduna
Leaders of Middle Belt Forum (MBF) have called on their members nationwide to dissociate themselves from the story making round on the purported attempt to cause blockade and movement of foodsuffs from the North to Southern part of the Country, describing it as nonsenstical, trash and unecceptionable in it entirety.
The forum, in a statement signed Tuesday by Kaduna State chapter, Secretary Mr. John Haruna, also called on all the ethnics Nationalities within the Middle Belt region to dissociate themselves from the move by group it’s also described as disgruntled elements.
MBF therefore appealed to youths, farmers, traders and artisans from the Middle Belt region of Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Plateau, Nassarawa, Adamawa, Southern Borno, Southern Kaduna, Southern Bauchi, Southern Yobe, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara and FCT Abuja, to ignore the call to block food supply chain to the Southern parts of the country.
It stated “The attention of Middle Belt Forum has been drawn to the call by some group of people calling for block of food supply to the Southern parts of the country.
“All ethnic Nationalities within the Middle Belt region have
disassociated themselves from the attempts and call by some disgruntled elements to block food supply to the Southern part of the country.The call is laughable, trash, nonsense in its entirety and unacceptable.
“We from the Middle Belt region of Nigeria shall continue to transact, do trade with and supply abundant food items to our Southern brothers who are so dear to us.
“No amount of blackmail shall force us to part way from YORUBAS, IBOS, IJAWS, BINIS, IBIBIOS and others. Let it be known to this group that the era of divide and rule by the so called core north is over, completely buried and gone for good. Such cannot be tolerated any longer. we no longer accept deceit and lies from anybody”, they stated.
“The Forum unequivocally advised those who are championing and supporting the call to rethink and desist from further making such an empty treat that will not augour well for them and their sponsors.
“On this note therefore, The Forum warned that it will not accommodate or tolerate such reckless statement from any quarter and asked this group to stare clear of Middle Belt geographical territories.
“Middle Belt is not part of the north and Middle Belt region is capable and can feed the entire Nigeria including the so called core north.
“infact, BENUE and KOGI alone can feed the entire Nigeria twenty Four calender months. The dubious intention will be meet with stiff resistance. how on earth do you cut supply of what you don’t have or what you don’t produce?”, It stated.
“The Forum is also asking this elements to be careful as not to jeopardise the already existing good, harmonious working relationship with our Southern brothers. We will not live any stone unturned to make sure we continue to maintain the existing good and cordial relationship with our Southern brothers.
“The Forum is equally calling on all our Southern brother and sisters to remained calm and ignore all the noise and rumours been peddling or making around and remained focused as they pursue their legitimate businesses. End
