By Raymond Gukas, Jos
The Middle Belt Journalists Forum, (MBJF), has commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabamila for accepting to receive the petition earlier rejected by the House by the deputy Speaker.
The MBJF in a statement signed by its President, Jonathan Ipaa and Oikeke Igado Kure, National Secretary appreciated the Speaker “for applying himself to the principle of freedom of speech and fair hearing by permitting Hon Mark Gbila’s petition on behalf of some Tiv diaspora be heard on the floor of the House.”
In the petition bordering on insecurity and was presented by the Benue Lawmaker, germain issues that were raised should have been attended to rather than dismissed by Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris when he presided over the House, the body said.
According to the MBJF, lawmakers have a critical role in democracy and must be seen to be the voice of the people.
“Any attempt by anyone to deny people an opportunity to lay the petition of their citizens within the ambit of the law before the legislature must be resisted.
‘The Speaker of the House of Representatives has done what is expected of a person occupying such office, and other presiding officers, elected persons and those appointed must know that they hold such positions in trust for the Nigerian people.
“At a period such as this when there is tension and unease across the country, the MBJF advice Nigerians, especially, public office holders to be circumspect in their comments and actions.
“The MBJF is willing and available to work with the lawmakers and other people of goodwill to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in the Middle Belt and other parts of the Country which are not being paid the desired attention.
“We therefore call on the two chambers of the National Assembly to come up with a Legislative agenda to address the human deprivation in Nigeria’s Middle Belt,” The MBJF stated further.
