By JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Kaduna State Chapter, has unanimously elected Luka Binniyat, a veteran journalist, writer and human rights activist as its new chairman on Saturday, along with other officials of the Forum.
The Middle Belt Forum, is the umbrella socio-cultural body of all the ethnic nationalities of Northern Nigeria in parts and whole of 14 of the 19 states of Northern Nigeria, including natives of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It boasts of the majority population of Nigeria as a region.
The election which took place at the BBS Hotel, Barnawa, Kaduna, was conducted by representatives of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the MBF headed by Mr Emmanuel Alamu (Kebbi State) National Organising Secretary of the MBF. The National Legal Adviser and his deputy, Barrister Mark Jacob (Southern Kaduna) and Barrister Ziggy Usman (Southern Kebbi) were the other two members of the NWC that conducted the election.
Luka Binniyat who was nominated for the post of the Chairman of the MBF, Kaduna State, was voted without a rival, so was the Secretary, Mr John Haruna, from Kogi State, who retained his position as the Secretary of Kaduna State Chapter among others.
The election was conducted peacefully without any controversy and animosity before, during and after the election.
Barrister Mark Jacob, swore in the new exco after taking their oath of office and were duly inaugurated by Mr Emmanuel Alamu on behalf of the National President of the MBF, Dr Bitrus Pogu.
Present at the election, was Hon. Jonathan Asake, a former Youth leader of the MDF and former president of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU).
In his remarks, he said that the MBF was a continuation of the struggle of the ethnic nationalities of Northern Nigeria for justice, equity and development against domineering tendencies of a section of the country since post independent Nigeria.
“I’m happy to see that today, the seeds of the struggle sowed by the founders of the MDF are still alive and thriving,” he said.
“I have known Luka Binniyat for over 40 years since we’re boys and what has kept our friendship over the year is our stand against tyranny and the oppression of our people.
“I can vouch that he will give the MDF, Kaduna state Chapter the desired leadership if he gets the cooperation of his exco and members,” he said.
In his remarks, Barr. Mark Jacob said that the new exco should not think that they are going into having a tea party.
“I have lost a lot of clients and many friends because of my stand for the Middle,” he said.
“If you are not ready to make sacrifices and take risks as Luka Binniyat who has been to jail for our people, then you have no business in this exco,” he said.
“The President of the MDF, Dr Bitrus Pogu and the NWC regards Kaduna state as a very vital part of the MBF and I believe that we shall not disappoint them,” he said.
In his acceptance speech, Luka Binniyat, said that all residents of Kaduna state native to the 14 states of the Middle Belt State will get fair representation as well as all the ethnic groups of Kaduna state spread in 13 LGAs.
“I want to continue with the courageous leadership of Dr Bitrus Pogu, our National President, to project, promote and defend the interest and values of the Middle Belt in Kaduna States,” he said.
“We have a government in Kaduna state today that is not beligerante and hateful to our people and the Middle Belt unlike the immediate past one,” he said.
“We shall encourage it to do more, but we shall not be timid in pointing out its areas of deficiency,” he said.
Below are the names and positions of the new exco.
Luka Binniyat – Chairman
Zakaria Haruna – Deputy Chairman
Mr. John Haruna – Secretary
Stephen Samuel – Assistant Secretary
Elder Solomon Danbaki – PRO
Larai Shekari – Treasurer
Tinzwang Cephas – Auditor
Isaac Tanko – Youth Coordinator.
Joseph John Pama – Deputy Director research and planning.
Daniel Ejembi – Vice Chairman (1)
Mrs Mary Zaka – Woman Leader
Ezekiel Baba-Karik – Organising
Secretary
Raphael Gwazah – Deputy Organising Secretary
Rhoda Emmanuel Dajuma – Assistant Chairman (2)
Dauda Sunda Gwagzwang – Director, Research and Documentation
John Yashim – Deputy Youth Coordinator
Ishakun Yohana Madaki –
Evangelist Daniel M Mashan – History and Documentation.
Ibrahim Aminu Kobo – Vice Chairman (3)
Haruna Demon – ex-officio
Nicodemus B Bakuyaye – Assistant PRO.
