Group rejects MoU with JAIZ Bank on rebuilding Jos terminus market

…Says it’ll mortgage ethnic interest

By Idibia Gabriel, Kaduna

The Middle Belt Progressive Movement (MBPM) has expressed utmost dismay and total displeasure on the purported Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with JAIZ Bank on rebuilding of Jos terminus market.

According to a communiqué issued in Kaduna, the MBPM, in its meeting Chaired by the former Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Potter L. Dabup (rtd), participants outrightly rejected the MoU in its entirety, saying the contract will not serve the common interest of the state.

While advising the administration of Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, to withdraw the idea of MoU, the movement said contracting the Jos main market to Islamic Bank would amounts to mortgaging the overall interest of all the ethnic nationalities in the state and the future of the youths.

MBPM enjoined the Governor to rescind his decision immediately if there’s no sinister motive attached to the MoU to syphon public funds through kickbacks.

The Governor was urged to continue with his “so called ongoing projects in the state,” and carry out the repair of roads from Langtang, Zanko, through other communities to Yelwa.

While urging him to discontinue with the MoU, the group told Governor Lalong to continue with his new found job of Muslim-Muslim ticket.

It also urged the Governor to resettle the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in plateau back to their permanent home, restore their farm lands and provide them with financial support necessary for proper settlement.

The group commended Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, on the step taken to establish Benue State Community Volunteers Guards to protect its citizens in the face of current severe herdsmen terrorism ravaging the middle belt region and other regions.

The body strongly advised Lalong to emulate his Benue state counterpart and establish a security network, pointing out that the basic responsibility of every government is the protection of lives and properties.

Meanwhile, it should be recalled that the indigenous people of Plateau state held a meeting with Governor Lalong during the weekend on the MoU on the contract of Jos main market to JAlZ Bank.

But the stakeholders later refuted the outcome of the meeting as transmitted by the Director of Press and Public Affairs to Governor, Dr. Makut Simon Macham, saying they did not endorse rebuilding of the market.