Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang yesterday said the Middle Belt, under the aegis of Middle Belt Forum (MBF) will not support President Gooodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition until he decides to run.
Some elders of the Southsouth and Middle Belt under the aegis of Congress for Equality and Change (CEC) led by Elderstatesman, Chief Edwin Clark and former Senate President, Ameh Ebute last month backed Jonathan’s ambition to retain his seat in 2015.
Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of a closed door meeting with Jonathan yesterday, Jang said the Middlebelt will only make its position known after the President makes his intentions known.
He said: “Southsouth forum is the zone of the President, so if they have started making the noise, it is good because he is their President, ours is to support. But you don’t start shouting before the man says this is where I am going.”
“So, when he talks, supposing he says he doesn’t want to go, so allow the man to talk . When he talks, if people are supporting, we shall come out to support him,” the Plateau governor said.
On the visit, the former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Ghana said: “This session was designed for exchange of ideas in an interactive manner with Mr President. We brought leaders from 14 states in the Middle Belt.”
“We are very delighted and honored that the delegation was led by the former Governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar. Essentially, we came to see Mr. President to appreciate what he has been able to do so far as contained in his mid- term report.”
“We appreciated the area of achievement and we also pointed out areas that needed further attention so that their completion will give tremendous credibility to this government and also help those of us who are supporting the government from the part of the Middle Belt the credibility to speak about government.”
Also yesterday, the President promised that the Federal Government will monitor the disbursement of the N5.7 billion which was recently approved for victims of the 2011 post-election violence in nine states, a statement by the president’s spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati said.
Replying to concrns raised by the middle belters, led by Chief Lar, Prof. Jerry Gana and Jang, Jonathan said the Federal Government will do all within its powers to ensure that the money goes to genuine victims.
“The Middle Belt has a key role to play in Nigeria. You have played a crucial role in keeping us united. I urge you to continue in that spirit,” Jonathan added.
Other members of the Middle Belt Forum included General Zamani Lekwot, Gen Joshua Dogonyaro, Gen Atom Kpera, Chief Fidelis Tapgun, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, Senator Ameh Ebute, Senator Joshua Dariye, Rev. Jolly Nyame, Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi, Dr. Bala Takaya, Ambassador Dan Suleiman, Hon. Margaret Ichei and Joe Gadzama.
Source: 247 Nigerian News Update