Presidential poll: Middle Belt group alleges betrayal

By Emeka Mamah

KADUNA—The umbrella organisation for northern minorities, Middle Belt Dialogue, MBD, Wednesday accused President Goodluck Jonathan of alleged betrayal of the people of the area.

In a statement in Kaduna, yesterday, the group lamented that in spite of the support the people of the Middle Belt gave Jonathan in the 2011 elections, he has decided to turn his back against them to appease those who were opposed to him.

The statement signed by its  Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emma Endazo on behalf of the Central Committee, also accused the President of allegedly refusing to give assistance to middle belt communities traumatised by the post election violence for voting him.

’’Jonathan has gone out of his way to placate those who vigorously, albeit violently, opposed his election as President, and promised to make the country ungovernable, should he win the 2011 election.

”The bulk of the 369,198 votes the President got in the 2011 elections were from Zuru area. After his swearing in ceremony President Goodluck Jonathan had nominated the then National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Haliru Bello and the people of Zuru did not bat an eyelid, and upon Dr Haliru’s resignation, Brig. Gen. Bitrus Usher was considered as a possible replacement.

”When this became public knowledge, the Chairman of the PDP in Kebbi State, Alhaji Mansur Shehu, objected to his possible nomination, saying that General Ushe was not acceptable to the party because they (in the PDP) did not know him as bonafide PDP member, in spite of the fact that it is public knowledge that the General is a card carrying member of the PDP and actively worked to ensure that President Jonathan got the 36 per cent of the votes during the April 2011 elections.

’’It is now clear that President Jonathan denied General Ushe, his supporter the ministerial nomination because he is a Middle Belter, a Dakarkar by tribe and to a Christian!

”The only sin of the Zuru people is that they are a minority like their brothers and sisters in Gombe, Yobe, Niger, Adamawa, Bauchi, Kaduna, Borno, Kogi  among others, whose support and vote for President Jonathan has been rewarded by the denial of political appointments,” the statement said.