JOS: Northern Reps blame crises on poverty

…demand devt masterplan for North

BY LUKA BINNIYAT & TORDUE SALEM
The Northern caucus in the House of Representatives Wednesday blamed the recurring religio-cultural crises in Jos Plateau State and other parts of the Northern region on poverty and frustration.

Besides, the House caucus also wants the Government of Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to collaborate with northern leaders on a development master plan for Northern states, like it is presently being done in the South-South States, as the caucus has also set up 20-member committee to tour the region with a view to addressing the fundamental reasons for incessant crises in the north.

The Chairman of the Caucus, Rep. Terngu Tsegba(PDP/Gboko Tarkaa/Benue State), who read the group’s resolution on the latest crisis in Jos at a press conference, said the basic problem with Plateau State and other parts of the region, remains poverty.

“Since the problem in the North is not just religious, but rather that of poverty and frustration, caucus calls on the Federal/State Governments to use the same method with which they dealt with militancy in the Niger Delta to solve the problem in Plateau and other Northern States”.

“The caucus also resolve to set up a 20 man committee to tour Northern States with a view to forestalling a repeat or spread of the crises to other parts of the North” as they called on “Security asgencies to be alert to their responsibilities of protecting lives and properties of Nigerians”.

The caucus however condemned “in strong terms the recent premeditated attack on villages in Jos South Local Government Area which resulted in loss of lives and properties including women and children, our sympathy goes to the families and relations of those who lost their lives, the government and people of Plateau State”.

The caucus also called on “all security agencies to be alert to their responsibilities of protecting lives and properties of Nigerians”.