Middle belt Youth organization, a youth group comprising all states of the middle belt in Nigeria has signed an alliance with youths of the Pan Igbo Group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan gets a second term in office.
The accord was reached yesterday in Awka when the leaders of the group led by its founder, Comrade Christopher Abariko visited Awka, Anambra State to meet the executives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to sign the pact.
Abariko in his opening speech said that their action was informed by the fact that Nigeria is not owned by any zone of the country, but jointly owned by all the consisting zones, hence to refusal to subscribe to attempts by the core north to edge out Jonathan.
“We have taken time to look at the things happening in Nigeria, and how some people think power is their exclusive right and as such must be held by them. We are here to join hands with Ohanaeze Ndigbo to deliver Jonathan who is a south Southerner.
“We cannot abandon him because he comes from a minority zone. We ourselves, we have been marginalized too. What we are here to say is that we will help Jonathan to return as the president, after which it will be the turn of the South east, then we the people of the Middle Belt can now take our turn.”
Abariko said that the people of the Middle Belt cannot support Buhari because of his role in the recurring crisis in the Middle belt between the people and Fulani herdsmen, ahich has led to the death of several people.
“Can Buhari pretend that he does not know that Fulani herdsmen have been causing trouble in the country? He is known to be a leader among the Fulani people, yet he has never said anything to call the people to order or condemned the killing.
“The only time he said anything about the havoc the Fulani herdsmen are causing was when he said that anyone who touches the Fulani people has touched his heart. That is why we will never support him because he thrives in violence.”
The group further stated that their support for Jonathan is because they are sure that he is the only one among the presidential candidates who will surely implement the recommendations of the national conference which was held last year.
On his part, the state chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth wing, Comrade Uche Ezekwelu stated that the group is happy to receive their brothers from the middle belt, saying that anyone who is in support of Jonathan is a friend of Ohaneze, but anyone opposed to him is an enemy.
Ezekwelu who said the resolve to implement the resolution of the national conference was the reason for their support added that just as the people of the middle belt have identified with them, his group will set out to lobby youths from the South South and South west to support Jonathan.
“We are already planning a mega rally of all the youths in the South East, South South, South West and middle belt which will hold in Abuja, and that is where we will tell the world our stand for the election.
