MIDDLE BELT YOUTH COUNCIL

22ND JANUARY, 2020

RT. HON. SIMON BAKO LALONG, GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE, SHOULD RESIGN HIS POSITION AS CHAIRMAN, “NORTHERN GOVERNORS’ FORUM” AND JOIN THE STRUGGLE OF MIDDLE BELT.

Recently, Plateau indegenes have suffered gruesome deaths and abduction by Boko Haram in Borno State. With all these ugly developments, the Governor of Plateau State, an illustrious son of the Middle Belt, has been serving as the Chairman, Northern Governors Forum.

Borno state is one of the states he chairs and this evil is being perpetrated against his own very people. The footages of the killings by the terrorist group communicate messages showing sheer hate against Plateau people.

Last year October, two hardworking youths who are indigenes of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State were gruesomely murdered by Boko Haram after capturing them at place of work. We woke up today with a devastating news of Mupun youth of Pankshin Local Government of Plateau State, a student of University of Maiduguri, has been murdered by the same group.

One Lilian Gyang from B/Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State was abducted by this group on 10th January, 2020 on her way to Maiduguri resuming school. She’s a 100L student of same University of Maiduguri. Up to now she’s still in their custody.

We kindly urge Governor Simon Bako Lalong to resign that position of Chairman of Northern Governors Forum and join his people in the struggle of Middle Belt. Many of our people have followed that path in past but were later disgraced by the same northern elements. It’s good for him to borrow a leaf from our father, and leader, Paul Unongu, who out of patriotism to Benue people and Middle Belt identity, resigned his position as Chairman of Northern Elders Forum. It won’t cost Governor Lalong anything to stand with his people at this dicey moment in our national life. Middle Belt people will be ready to receive him anytime he repents.
We expect the following steps to be taken by His Excellency, Rt. Hon Simon Bako Lalong, Governor of Plateau State:

1. He should call on all Plateau indegenes schooling in Borno State to come back home and be given admission in Plateau State, University.
2. The Governor should come out openly to caution Plateau indegenes working in Borno State or traveling around that axis
3. He should use the position as Chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum for the last time, to address the world on the hate against Plateau indegenes.
4. He should partner with other Universities in the Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria so that the indegenes will secure admission.

Lastly, we comment the efforts embarked upon by the Governor of Borno State, Prof Zulum Babagana, in finding lasting solutions to the prolonged insurgency in the state. It’s a herculean task but we urge him to keep on doing his best, he will make huge and historic progress.
Precious lives of Middle Belt people shouldn’t be wasted all the time. We’re faced with militia Fulani herdsmen killings and yet another brand of homicide is brewing against us. We cannot afford this.

Signed:

Emma Zopmal
National Youth Leader, Middle Belt Forum

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Middle Belt Youths Mourn Killing of Plateau Youths by Boko Haram, Calls for Gov. Lalong’s Resignation as NGF Chairman