Grand Patron of the Middle Belt Youth Development Organization, MBYDO, Professor Iyorwuese Hagher on Monday canvassed a more united, formidable and stronger ties between ethnic and religious groups to overcome killings, destruction arising from the herders and farmers clashes in the region.
Hagher, who spoke at the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu Unity Sports Tournament Committee in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, said there was urgent need for the Middle Belt region to come together use sports as a unifying factor to halt incessant killings bedeviling major parts of the region and by extension Northern states.
He said the step taking by the MBYDO, if supported and embraced by the leaders in the region, crisis ravaging middle would soon be a thing of the past.
The one-time presidential candidate, noted that the move by the group would not only reawaken the position of the region as a centre of unity, but propel development and togetherness in the North.
Hagher, who condemned the current onslaught by killer herders, especially in the Middle Belt region, however, urged the current leadership led by All Progressives Congress, APC to come up with decisive measures by supporting the proactive steps by the MBYDO to resolve some of the burning political, religious issues that would address the killings.
According to him, the mission (MBYDO) was to rescue Nigerians from the shackles of youth restiveness, kidnapping and ensuring availability of social amenities which will have direct benefit to the entire populace.
He said: “We know who we are in the middle Belt region.we feel the need for national cohesion, consciousness and greatness. Having a greater Nigeria will propel development with distinct culture.
“Middle Belt, the land of the people that were never conquered nor enslaved. I am delighted and grateful to God for this important gathering of these free minded people whose freedom had been put to question in a very barbaric manner under a democracy.
“This move by the Middle Belt Youth Development Organization is not a personal ambition, it is a struggle to save Nigeria from imminent fascism.
“We are not have greatness untill we have a country call Nigeria. The country can not be great unless the people are made great”.
The former Ambassador, who noted that the nation was in short supply of good leaders, cautioned the nation’s leaders against see the citizens as follower rather they should be accorded the due place as citizens.
While regretting that the North was in the face of poverty, hunger and terrorism today, Hagher called on the federal, states government, especially the Northers to explore sports to unite the people irrespective of religion, ethnicity, cultural and political.
“Problems in the North is a national issues hinging on tribalism, religion and ethnic sentiment which if not properly and unanimously tackled will continue to pose as an unending challenge in the region.
“I want to challenge all well meaning citizens and residents in the middle Belt region to contribute meaningfully to the sustainable of peace, development,” he added.
While congratulating the committee members for accepting to serve and contributing to the development of the region, the grand patron urged them to see their appointment as call to service not an avenue to enrich themselves.
It would be recalled that membership of the Middle Belt Youth Development Organization cuts across all the states of the Middle Belt region.
