By Ezekiel Dontinna
The Centre Director, Middle Belt Centre for Advocacy, Research and Documentation (MBCARD), Nde Jonathan Ishaku, has made a case for the minority groups in Nigeria urging Journalists to investigate issues of political marginalisation and their struggles in gaining voice in decision making process.
He made the case Thursday, while making remarks at an Interactive Engagement Meeting organised by Senior Special Assistant to Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, Hon. Dan Kwada, in collaboration with the Plateau State Chapter of the Middle Belt Journalists Forum (MBJF), held at the Greatlinks Continental Suites Jos.
The Centre Director, who is a Veteran Journalist, Author & Essayist, implored Middle Belt Journalists to highlight the region’s ethnic and religious diversity and the challenges of maintaining peaceful coexistence.
He also charged Middle Belt Journalists to write stories or reports on efforts that could develop the agricultural sector and promote small-scale businesses in the region.
The Veteran Journalist, therefore, said, “the journalist could investigate issues of political marginalization and the struggles of minority groups to gain a greater voice in decision-making processes.
“They could also explore the impact of insecurity, such as the activities of armed herdsmen and the challenges of internally displaced persons, and how these issues affect the region’s development.
“The journalist could document the role of traditional leaders and religious institutions in promoting peace and social cohesion, as well as the efforts to address religious-based discrimination and intolerance”, Ishaku reiterated.
He, therefore, emphasised on the Middle Belt journalist’s perspective that provide a nuanced and contextual understanding of the key development issues facing Nigeria, with a focus on the unique experiences and challenges of the region.
Nde Jonathan Ishaku, commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang, of Plateau State for the vision in creating the office of Senior Special Assistant on Middle Belt Nationalities to cater for the affairs of the Middle Belt describing it as great achievement.
“For too long, the idea of the Middle Belt has often been dismissed as a fiction but by this creation Governor Mutfwang has become the first Middle Belt governor the give concrete existence to it.
“However, it is one thing to create the office and quite another to give relevance to it. By organizing this interactive meeting with members of the MBJF, Hon. Kwada has proved that he understands his assignment very well and is determine to make a success of it”, the Veteran commended.
Earlier, the Convener of the Interactive Engagement and the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, on Middle Belt Nationalities, Hon. Dan Kwada, disclosed that the Middle Belt Region issues were under-reported hence the need for MBJF to pick up the challenge and tell the world their stories.
He commended the older Middle Belt Journalists for their resilience in fighting the course of the region from day one and encouraged the younger Journalists to emulate that spirit by charting a new course together as a team in projecting the zone.
On his part, the Special Adviser to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, on Strategic Communications, Dr. Timothy Simon Golu, lamented the failure of previous North Central Governors to show much interests in building a strong and united states towards the development of zone.
On his part, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor Caleb Mutfwang, disclosed that the Governor has approved the repair of roads from Jos to Nasarawa and Abuja, and to provide support for internally displaced persons in Plateau State.
Other highly respected Veterans Journalists among whom included; former Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication Hon. Gregory Yenlong, former Plateau State Council NUJ Chairman and Managing Editor of The Nigeria Standard Newspaper, Nde Katdapba Y Gobum, former Director of Press and Public Affairs to former Governor Jonah Jang, Mr. James Manok, former Plateau State NUJ Chairman and the Current Managing Editor of The Nigeria Standard Newspaper, Mr. Paul Jatau and Chief Nayak Daman among others.
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