By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Kaduna State chapter of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), the umbrella organisation of all ethnic nationalities in Northern Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Saturday, July 13, 2024, elected Mr Luka Binniyat as its chairman.

The election which took place in Kaduna, was conducted by representatives of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Forum headed by Mr Emmanuel Alamu (Kebbi States) National Organising Secretary,National Legal Adviser and his deputy, Mr Mark Jacob Esq., from Kaduna State and Mr Ziggy Usman Esq., from Kebbi state.

Binniyat, who was nominated for the position of chairman of the Forum was returned unopposed as well as Mr John Haruna from Kogi State who re-elected as Secretary of the MBF.

Others officers that emerged included; Zakaria Haruna – Deputy Chairman, Stephen Samuel – Assistant Secretary, Elder Solomon Danbaki – PRO, Larai Shekari – Treasurer, Tinzwang Cephas – Auditor, lsaac Tanko – Youth Coordinator and Joseph John Pama – Deputy Director, Research and Planning.

Other elected officers were 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, lshakun Yohana Madaki, Evangelist Daniel M Mashan – History and Documentation, Ibrahim Aminu Kobo – Vice Chairman (3), Haruna Demon – ex-officio and

Nicodemus B Bakuyaye – Assistant PRO.

After the peaceful and successful conduct of the elections, Mr Mark Jacob, administer oath of office and allegiance on the new executive committee members of the MBF, Kaduna State chapter and later inaugurated by Mr Emmanuel Alamu on behalf of the National President of the Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu.

Present at the election, was Hon Jonathan Asake, a former Youth leader of the Forum who was also the former president of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU).

In his remarks, Hon Asake 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.

In his words; “I am happy to see that today, the seeds of the struggle sowed by the founders of the MDF are still alive and thriving. I have known Luka Binniyat for over 40 years since we were 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 executive and members”.

Speaking in turn, Mr Mark Jacob urged the Binniyat-led executive committee not to think that they are going into having a tea party.

Jacob said; “I have lost a lot of clients and many friends because of my stand for the Middle. 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 executive.

“The President of the MDF, Dr Bitrus Pogu and the NWC regards Kaduna state as a very vital part of the MBF and believe that we shall not disappoint them”.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Binniyat said that all residents of Kaduna state and natives to the 14 states of the Middle Belt States will get fair representation as well as all the ethnic groups of Kaduna state spread across 13 Local Government Areas.

In the words of Binniyat: “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.

“We have a government in Kaduna state today that is not belligerent and hateful to our people and the Middle Belt unlike the immediate past one. We shall encourage it to do more, but we shall not be timid in pointing out its areas of deficiency,” he said.