Olu Samuel, Lokoja

Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has charged Middle Belt Forum to use it’s position to unite the middle belt states and Nigeria at large.

Governor Ododo gave the charge on Tuesday in his office , Lokoja when the national body of the forum led members of the newly inaugurated executives of Kogi state chapter to government house on a courtesy visit.

The governor who was represented by his deputy Elder Joel Salifu Oyibo, said the forum has the capacity, ability and the intellect to unified the diverse ethnic groups in the north central and the entire country.

“The forum is unique and has the ability to unite all the middle belt states and Nigeria in general. We must speak with one voice because where there is discord and crisis, there can never be development.

“I am appealing to the forum that what happened in the last governorship election in Kogi State where ethnicity was clearly introduced in the state politics should be looked into because such type of politics is capable of tearing the state apart.

“The forum should sensitize the people not only in Kogi but other states the consequence of ethnicity, religion in politics and the forum should try as much as possible to foster unity among the diverse ethnic groups in Kogi state” he stated

While assuring that the state government is very ready to collaborate with the middle belt forum to discharge its responsibilities, the governor urged them to rally round his administration for the betterment of the state.

Earlier, the president of the forum Bitrus Podu who was represented by his vice, Mallam Idi Waziri, said the national body was in the Kogi to inaugurate the state’s chapter of the forum, saying the forum held the state in high esteem due to the peaceful nature of the state.

He appealed to the people of middle belt to protect their cultures and nurture them to enable the younger ones knows their roots.