Leaders of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) have called on members nationwide to dissociate themselves from any attempt to cause blockade and movement of foodstuffs from the North to Southern part of the country, describing such action as “nonsensical, trash and unacceptable in its entirety”.
A statement issued by the Secretary, Kaduna State chapter of the forum. also called on all the ethnics nationalities within the middle belt region to dissociate themselves from the decision.
MBF therefore appealed to youths, farmers, traders and artisans from Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Plateau, Nassarawa, Adamawa, Southern Borno, Southern Kaduna, Southern Bauchi, Southern Yobe, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara and FCT, Abuja, to ignore the call to block food supply chain to the southern parts of the country.
It stated “The attention of Middle Belt Forum has been drawn to the call by some group of people calling for block of food supply to the southern part of the country.
“All ethnic nationalities within the middle belt region have disassociated themselves from the attempts and call by some disgruntled elements to block food supply to the Southern part of the country. The call is laughable, trash, nonsense in its entirety and unacceptable
“We from the Middle Belt region of Nigeria shall continue to transact, do trade with and supply abundant food items to our Southern brothers who are so dear to us.
“No amount of blackmail shall force us to part way from the Yorubas, Ibos, Ijaws, Binis, Ibibios and others. Let it be known to this group that the era of divide and rule by the so called core north is over, completely buried and gone for good. Such cannot be tolerated any longer. we no longer accept deceit and lies from anybody,” they stated.
“The Forum unequivocally advised those who are championing and supporting the call to rethink and desist from further making such an empty treat that will not augur well for them and their sponsors.
“On this note therefore, The Forum warned that it will not accommodate or tolerate such reckless statement from any quarter and asked this group to stare clear of Middle Belt geographical territories.
“Middle Belt is not part of the north and Middle Belt region is capable and can feed the entire Nigeria including the so-called core north”, the statement stated.
The statement further said, “in fact, Benue and Kogi alone can feed the entire Nigeria twenty-four calendar months. The dubious intention will be met with stiff resistance. How on earth do you cut the supply of what you don’t have or what you don’t produce?”
