•Call for disregard of ethnic, religious politics

 By Emeka Mamah

Kaduna — Youths in the Middle Belt area of the country have asked President Goodluck Jonathan to disregard the politics of ethnicity and religion being promoted by some failed leaders in the north and contest the 2011 election.

The youths who met under the aegis of Middle Belt Youths Mobilization for Goodluck Jonathan (MBYMGJ) in Kaduna, also warned another youth organization which threatened to stage a protest rally in the north against President Jonathan to forget the idea in the interest of the country’s unity.

The group made the call against the backdrop of hints that northern politicians working for Jonathan’s election in 2011 have mobilized about 30 buses from each of the 19 northern states to bring participants during the July 15, 2010 political summit in Kaduna.

The organizers of the summit are said to be preparing to use the one day event to make a statement that the north was solidly behind Jonathan in his reported bid to contest the 2011 election.

However, a group which identified itself as the Northern Youth Consultative Forum (NYCF) had warned that it would mobilize its members to embark on protest if Jonathan goes ahead to contest the forthcoming general elections.

In a communiqué issued after their meeting, the Middle Belt youths expressed dismay over the “undemocratic attitude” of their Arewa counterpart in their approach to political issues.

The communiqué was jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary General, Hon. Victor Bobai and Prince Samuel Owobi Jnr. respectively.

“We want Nigerians to understand the approach of the present administration under leadership of President Jonathan, which main aim is to ensure credible, free and fair elections next year; reduce corruption to the barest minimum as well as ensure steady power supply thereby making life more meaningful to the average Nigerian.”