By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja
An indigene of kogi state and a retired director in the state, Mr Shuaibu John Omuya, has called on members of the Middle Belt Forum to wake up from their political slumber and take the destiny of the region into their hands.
He said the Forum must be decisive in taking decisions on national issues,if the region must be free from the aprong string of other regions and take its pride of place in the political equation of Nigeria.
Omuya,who gave the advice in a statement he sent to The Reporters in Lokoja on Wednesday, expressed concern that in spite of the political relevance of middle belt, particularly when it comes electing the nation’s leaders, ” the area named Middle Belt has neither true geographical nor political expression.”
He said:” It looks like some of its social elite are seeking for identity . In every action they take, they display some sympsymps of timidity or inferiority complex.
“When the likes of Joseph Tarka of blessed memory were championing the cause of Middle Belt,they were bold and out spoken .
“Takas’ movement was not an appendage to any other socio-cultural group as it obtains now . These days, the Middle Belt Forum seems to function as an appendage of such socio-cultural organizations as the Ohaneze , Afenifere and Ijaw group.
“The group toes the same line of action with them,even on issues that do not affect the region, provided it is against the Federal Government. This amounts to mere expression of prejudice or hatred.
“There is a need for the Forum to go back to the drawing board to redefine its aims and objectives that will reflect its own peculiar identity.”
