The absence of its members from President Bola Tinubu’s newly formed Governing Board of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) has been described by the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Kaduna State chapter, as alarming, disheartening, and surprising.
A statement issued by its chairman, Mr Luka Binniyat on Sunday evening said, “the total absence of any member from the Middle Belt parts of the North West Development Commission is very disturbing and depressing, as it does not seem to acknowledge and respect the diversity and composition of the region.
“It may mean that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu will continue the marginalization of the Middle Belt in the Northwest when it comes to the general welfare of our people, similar to his immediate predecessor, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).”
He lamented, “How can Kano and Jigawa states have two members each, while Southern Kaduna and Southern Kebbi, with a large Christian population, have no representation? Where is diversification and Federal Character represented here?”
The chairman explained the North Central zone is far smaller than the Middle Belt that spans 13 states in the north and the FCT.
While protesting the exclusion of the area from the commission, he said their perennial marginalization would continue even in staff recruitment and appointment on the commission’s workforce.
Binniyat observed that Southern Kaduna and Southern Kebbi have suffered genocidal herdsmen destruction and kidnappings since 2014, stressing that fair resource allocation to ravaged areas was unlikely without representation.
He alleged that if the Senate confirms the list and the President inaugurates the members, he should prepare for potential conflicts and crises of interest in the Northwest.
Binniyat stated that Tinubu should note that while other Northwest areas protested violently against the government, the MBF restrained its members.
Written Amos Tauna