By Philip Yatai

The Moro’a Development Association (MDA) of Asholio people in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State has inaugurated Elders’ Consultative Forum to promote peace, social and economic development.

The Forum would serve as advisory body of the MDA and Moro’a Traditional Council, on matters relating to the development, politics, security, peace and reconciliation in the land.

The President of the association, Dr La’ah Joshua, made this known in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigerian (NAN), on Sunday in Kaduna.

Joshua said the Forum, inaugurated on Friday at the Chief of Moro’a Palace, Manchok, would also serve as the “Think Tank of the Asholio people.”

He said the body would perform its expected roles in collaboration with the MDA’s Board of Trustees, adding that the Forum has Prof. Sunday Agang as Chairman with Mr Moses Bonat as Secretary, respectively.

Some notable members of the Forum include Dr James Bature of University of Jos; Bishop Zakkah Bonet, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Patrick, Rev. Thomas Ashin and Mr Ben Shemang of Voice of Nigeria (VON).

Others are Mr Yusuf Mugu, representing Kaura Constituency at the Kaduna State House oof Assembly and Mr Takai Shemang of the Gowon Foundation, among others.

According to him, the 24-member Forum will serve for a period of four years and will be eligible for renewal on recommendation of the Congress.

“The members were carefully chosen based on their antecedents, integrity, expertise, experience and contribution to the development of Moro’a land.

“We will benefit immensely from their wealth of experience through guidance and advise to the traditional council, on how to bring development to our people.

“I am confident that this initiative will ensure the needed security, peace and promote political progress as well as development in Moro’a land,” he said.