Plateau Assembly Crisis:  Middle Belt Journalists Forum Appeals For Calm Among  Politicians In The State

Yakubu Busari

The Middle Belt Journalists Forum, MBJF has appealed for calm and the return to democratic norms in the Plateau State House of Assembly.

The MBJF made this appeal Wednesday in a press statement signed by its President, Jonathan IPAA, and National Secretary, Mrs. Oikeke Igado-Kure in Abuja.

The media pressure group also condemned the impeachment of the Plateau State House Speaker, Hon. Ayuba Abok and replacement with new leadership by six out of the twenty-four state lawmakers, saying, that Plateau state cannot afford further escalation of any crisis.

The Middle Belt Journalists Forum described the impeachment as a legislative coup but urged Plateau state elders to intervene by restoring peace back to the House of Assembly.

“We see the crisis as a continued desecration of democracy on the Plateau, which is another ploy to deny Plateau people their legitimate democratic rights in the name of internal party interest while the larger majorities remain in the trenches.

“We appeal to Plateau elders to as a matter of urgency, intervene against this legislative coup.

“Consequently, we call on the House of Representatives to immediately take over the affairs of the Plateau State House of Assembly pending when permanent peace will be restored.”

“The people of Plateau state must not be allowed to suffer further crisis having gone through a subjective communal crisis.

“We also appeal to the Government of His Excellency Simon Bako Lalong to play safe with the fragile issue by allowing democratic norms to reign through the expression of the majority no matter what their political differences or interests.”