Lar warns North against discrimination

Founding Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former governor of old Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar, has said that the North may lose its unity, if the "discriminatory attitude" of some of its leaders does not change.

Lar told reporters in Kaduna that Christians in the North were suffering from severe discrimination and were being denied land to build churches in some states, a situation he said runs contrary to the legacies of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello.

According to him, the Middle Belt, which has contributed immensely in ensuring that Nigeria remains indivisible, is being neglected.

The former governor noted that besides Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Kwara, Taraba and Gombe states, others in the North discriminate against Christians.

Lar said: "The Northern states still remember what Sardauna did for them. He made sure there were good schools and he established them and funded them properly. He ensured that the literacy level improved. He also encouraged the education of women, boys and girls at the same time. Although there were different ethnic nationalities within the region, he managed to keep them together, irrespective of their differences.

"Apart from that, he did not allow religion to overshadow his administration. Although he was a good practising Muslim, he also recognised that there are other people of different faiths, such as Christians. He did not deny them their rights as they are doing now in some states in the North.

"In the North, apart from Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Kwara, Taraba, Kogi and Gombe states, other states discriminate against Christians so much so that if you are a Christian or if you are not a Muslim, they will not give you a piece of land to build a church; they will not employ Christians, they will not allow the children of Christians to go to public schools. They don’t allow the teaching of Christian religious knowledge in their schools. This is very wrong. This type of thing should not exist if we are all citizens of this country.

"If Christian children go to public schools in those states, they will be forced to change their names to Muslim names. For example, if you are Gabriel, they will change your name to Jibril. If you are Moses, they will call you Musa etc. This is very bad. This will not bring about the unity that Sardauna left for the people of the North."

He, however, expressed the hope that with the launch of a foundation in honour of Ahmadu Bello, the situation will change for better.

Recalling the role of the Middle Belt in ensuring Nigeria’s unity and stability, Lar said the region had been neglected by subsequent civilian administrations.

"It is a pity that the Middle Belt that used to do everything and helped in maintaining peace and order is being neglected. For example, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and other soldiers from the Middle Belt worked together to keep this country together and at the end of it, he said there was no victor no vanquished.

"This is a great statement ever made, but now the civilian administrations do not seem to look after the Middle Belt properly. It is forgotten completely. They are crying, they have been complaining, they have been coming to me. In terms of appointments at federal level, the Middle Belt is not properly taken care of.

"Economically, the Middle Belt is not properly looked after, development wise; the roads are the worst. No development at all!"

Lar also called for the reformation of the nation’s electoral process for a credible and transparent general election in 2011.

"I was the first National Chairman of the PDP and we never rigged elections. Our president won on merit alone, all governors and local government chairmen won without any question. There was no complain of rigging in the 1999 election, but it was after 1999 that people started talking about rigging. Why should you rig when you already enjoy the support of the people?

"I am appealing to all political parties to allow Nigerians to have their say at elections because it would encourage development, unity and peace and everybody would accept the administration that comes to power in a credible and transparent election. Please, let us accept the electoral reform recommendation by Justice Uwais as it is, because it would solve the problems," Lar said.