Youths vow to vote candidate of middle belt region

NATIONAL Youth leader of Middle Belt Forum, Nasiru Jagaba has said that the region would vote for the presidential candidate of the middle belt in 2019 elections.

Jagaba who spoke to newsmen in Makurdi yesterday called on politicians to consider the region in the spirit of fair play, justice and equity.

He lamented that the region had long been neglected and disregarded whenever it comes to the picking the leader of the country.

The youth leader said that the region holds the key to a peaceful and united Nigeria but regretted that the region had suffered neglect, wanton killings, destruction and occupation of our land.

While stating that in the geopolitical zoning arrangement, that there is a clear demarcation in the southern region in the sharing of political power, Jagaba said such is different in the north where he said the middle belt is lumped together with core north.

“We are therefore demanding a power shift to the Middle Belt in 2019. Our demand is based on our conviction that it is our turn to produce the next president of this country.

“We have qualified sons and daughters that have been tested and trusted and given the opportunity, Nigeria will be far better than what it is today.

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“When the power goes to the South, there is a clear demarcation between South West, South East and South South. Why is the North lumped into one basket?

“We demand a fair share, equitable distribution and power rotation to the Middle Belt. Our story has been that of a people that have been abandoned to their fate despite fighting hard to keep this country together, no good road network, no good airports and our people are dying.

“Few government policies have been favourable to our people despite being the food basket of the Nation and the heartbeat of the nation’s mineral resources.

“We are also sending a clear message to the political parties that our support and votes in the Middle Belt will only go to the party that puts forward a presidential candidate from the Middle Belt,” the youth leader said.