MIDDLE Belt Forum, MBF has reaffirmed its endorsement of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for president, citing insecurity in the region as a major factor for rejecting President Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC who is vying for second term.
Addressing newsmen in Makurdi yesterday, president of the body, Dr Pogu Bitrus, lamented that the killing of thousands of people in the area under the current administration and said there was no way the people will support any candidate who failed to provide security for the lives and properties of the people.
His words, “You will recall that on the 3th day of February, 2019 at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, the Middle Belt Forum, together with our southern brothers, namely, The Pan Niger Delta Development Forum (PANDEF), Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo; and the Northern Elders Forum adopted Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as our joint candidate. We have called you today to establish the basis of our decision and reaffirm our endorsement on behalf of the peoples of the Middle Belt region.
“The pan Nigeria adoption of Atiku Abubakar, for the peoples of the middle belt, was based on a dispassionate assessment of the candidates of the two major political parties, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All progressive congress APC and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.
“One major consideration for us in this election is the security of lives and properties of the peoples of the Middle Belt region. It is no secret that in the close to four years of Buhari led administration; the entire Middle Belt has been turned into a vast killing field.
“According to Amnesty International, a human rights group, 1,814 people were killed across 17 states in Nigeria within 6 months in 2018. In 2017, 894 deaths via killings, was recorded. Within the first 4 months of the year 2018, 801 persons had been murdered in the Middle Belt alone.
“The property lost have not been properly quantified in pecuniary terms but the world knows that the attacks are usually characterized by burning of houses, farm, vehicles and any property within sight. The primary responsibility of government as enshrined in Section 14 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 (as amended) is the protection of lives and property.
“The Buhari-led administration has failed woefully in the duty and endangered the entire Middle Belt region. We therefore had no hesitation in rejecting him as a candidate deserving of our support in forthcoming presidential election.
“For us in the Middle Belt, therefore, the forthcoming presidential election is crucial and very critical to the survival of the peoples of the Middle Belt. It well determines whether the onslaught on the region will continue for the next four years or whether the people will receive succor from the federal government of Nigeria.
“After discussing with Atiku Abubakar and observing his campaigns, we believe he has the intellectual and mental capacity as well as the vitality to attend the the security challenges in the Middle Belt, in particular and the entire nation, in general. This was our primary consideration in our endorsement of the candidate.”
The body also listed restructuring as another major consideration for its endorsement of Atiku. According to Bitrus, “As presently constituted, the Nigerian federation is unwieldy and a contraption for the annihilation of the peoples of the Middle Belt, our cultures and aspirations. The position of the Middle Belt over the years has been that a restructured Nigerian will work best for the development of the region.
“Atitku’s stand, when we discussed with him and subsequently throughout his campaigns, has been an unwavering commitment to restructuring. He has a plan and has committed himself to doing so by undertaking to present a bill on restructuring to the National Assembly within the first 6 months. This is music to our cars.
“We also noted his pan Nigerian acceptability as a neither characterized by nepotism in his appointments, clannishness in his dealings nor bigoted in his relationship with the peoples of the Middle Belt.”
Bitrus also disclosed the support of the body for Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state who he said has met the purpose of government by providing security and welfare to the people.
“He has stood firm in defending the interest of our people through the anti-open grazing law and risked all assault on his person and office from the federal government in defense of the peoples of Benue state, their lands and pride. Gov. Ortom is a true Middle Belter and deserves our support.
“It is on the basis of the foregoing that well call on all the peoples of the Middle Belt region to turn out in mass on this coming Saturday, 23rd and vote for Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the PDP, as it is only under him that peace and security of lives and property can return to the entire Middle Belt region.
“We equally call on the good people of Benue state to vote Gov. Ortom on the March 9 to ensure the protection of our lands and restoration of our dignity and pride as a people,” Bitrus urged.
