A group of Professional Journalists under the auspice of Middle Belt Journalists Forum has commended the Speaker Federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabamila for accepting the petition by the Tiv Group in Diaspora presented by the Member representing Gwer-East/Gwer-West Federal Constituency Benue State, Rep. Mark Terseer Gbillah which was rejected by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris who presided over the House sitting when the petition was presented.

The Forum in a statement on Tuesday 23rd March, 2021 in Abuja by its President, Jonathan Ipaa, JP also made case for a sound legislative agenda to address the humanitarian crisis in the Middle Belt.

The statement reads;

MIDDLE BELT JOURNALISTS FORUM COMMENDS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SPEAKER; CALLS FOR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TO ADDRESS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE BELT. 

Elected representatives are being asked to allow for robust debate and conversation on matters brought before them.

They are also advised to uphold the freedom of speech as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

The Middle Belt Journalists Forum echoed this in a statement on Tuesday  in Abuja. 

The statement signed by the MBJF President, Jonathan Ipaa appreciated the Speaker  of the House of Representatives Rt Hon Femi Gbajabamila.

This is for applying himself to the principle of freedom of speech and fair hearing by permitting Hon. Mark Gbila’s petition on behalf of some Tiv diaspora be heard on the floor of the House. 

The group said issues raised by the Benue Lawmaker are germain and should have been attended to rather than dismissed by Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris when he presided over the House.

The MBJF said lawmakers have a critical role in  democracy and must be seen to be the voice of the people.

“Any attempt by anyone to deny people an opportunity to lay the  petition of their citizens within the ambit of the law before the legislature must be resisted’.

‘The Speaker of the House of Representatives has done what is expected of a person occupying such office, and other presiding officers, elected persons and those appointed must know that they hold such positions in trust for the Nigerian people’.

“At a period such as this when there is tension and unease across the country, the MBJF advice Nigerians, especially, public office holders to be circumspect in their comments and actions”. 

“The MBJF is willing and available to work with the lawmakers and other people of goodwill to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in the Middle Belt and other parts of the Country which are  not being paid the desired attention”.

“We therefore call on the two chambers of the National Assembly to come up with a Legislative agenda to address the human deprivation in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.” The MBJF stated further. 

Signed:
Jonathan IPAA, JP, President

Mrs Oikeke Igado Kure, National Secretary

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Middle Belt Journalists Forum Commends Speaker House of Reps, Calls for Legislative Agenda to Address Humanitarian Crisis in the Middle Belt