Middle Belt: National Conference Will Resolve Nigeria’s Challenges

The youth wing of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has declared its support for the proposed national dialogue, saying it would go a long way in resolving the numerous challenges facing the country.

The group also said by setting up an advisory committee to fashion out modalities for the conference, President Goodluck Jonathan had demonstrated that he was committed to building  a strong and united Nigeria predicated on justice, equity and fair play.
The Middle Belt youths, in a statement in Kaduna, by its national leader and former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Jonathan Asake, maintained that the dialogue would afford Nigerians the opportunity to express their views and feelings on the myriad of issues that have continued to threaten the unity of the country and stunted its development.

While insisting that the conference should be allowed to deliberate freely on all matters affecting  the country, Asake also said the conference should allow representations from religious groups,  ethnic nationalities, professional groups, trade unions and the physical challenged among others.

"There should be no such thing as “no go areas” as this is capable of thwarting  the very essence of the conference. The conference should explore every available avenue to ensure that its resolutions have legal backing.

"The Youth Wing of the Middle Belt Forum  wish to commend the President Jonathan for his foresight and courage in responding to the long standing yearnings of the Nigerian people for a national dialogue by constituting an advisory committee  to develop a framework that will guide and guard the proceedings of the discussions.

"Consequently, we the Middle Belt Forum hereby declare our total support for the proposed national conference as we believe that this will go a long way in resolving the numerous challenges facing our great nation.
"We hereby reiterate our interest and unalloyed support for this course for there is no better time to do this than now.

"Contrary to the position of skeptics and detractors of President Jonathan’s administration regarding the national conference, we in the Middle Belt Forum believe that by setting up a committee for the conference, Mr. President is sincere and genuinely committed to building a strong and united Nigeria where justice, equity and fair play abound," Asake said.