…Hosting delegates conference in August 2024 in Kaduna.
…Says, Nigeria was imposed constitution.
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Coalition of Indigenous Middle-Belt Organisations (CIMBO) has come up with a statement and demands for the restructuring of Nigeria, saying, “This would give room for the participation of indigenous nationalities in government.”
The Middle-Belt groups, in a release singed by the coalition chairman, Timothy Gandu, and made available to newsmen in Kaduna on Wednesday ,lamented the non-implementation of the 2014 National Conference (2014 Confab) Report.
It stated that, “The conference recommended the creation of more states and eight (8) geopolitical zones in Nigeria, with the Middle-Belt having three (3) zones, given its land size and population, i.e,. Middle-Belt-East, Middle-Belt-Central and Middle-Belt West.”
According to the release, “The Coalition is hosting a National Delegates Conference on the 9th and 10th August, 2024, in Kaduna, to discuss and consolidate on their demands, under the theme: ‘Restructuring and Enactment of the Peoples Constitution, Panacea to Peace and Good Growth of the Nation,’” it stated.
The coalition stated that, “The birth of CIMBO in 2023, became necessary after the Coalition of Indigenous Ethnic Nationalities in Nigeria (CIEN),” and advised that “indigenous ethnic nationalities across the nation meet in their respective blocs and come up with their positions on the restructuring of Nigeria.”
“CIMBO is of the strong view that Nigeria has an imposed constitution on its populace, that has not given recognition to the minorities in consonance with the United Nations declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007), and this includes the people of the Middle-Belt of Nigeria, who have over 400 ethnic groups, with a population estimated at over 44 million as at 2016.
“The 2014 National Conference (2014 Confab) Report recommended the creation of more states and eight (8) geopolitical zones in Nigeria, with the Middle-Belt having three (3) zones, given its land size and population, i.e., Middle-Belt-East, Middle-Belt-Central and Middle-Belt West.
“The non-actualisation of the 2014 Confab Report, the promulgation of laws and policies detrimental to the people of the Middle-Belt has necessitated the call for all Middle-Belt Indigenous Ethnic Organizations, to meet and reinforce their stand as a bloc in Nigeria.
“Principal amongst the issues to be discussed at the meeting are, the need to: (1) Maintain our identity; (2) Have control of our ethnic lands, heritage and resources; (3) Remove our ethnic groups from internal oppression, suppression and colonialism.
“(4) To be part of the Nigerian Federation and to benefit equally and equitably like all other groups in the nation; (5) To support and reinforce all positive actions of Middle-Belt Organisations, like the Middle-Belt Forum (MBF), Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Nationalities Community Development Associations (CONAECDA), Kwararafa People’s Assembly (KPA), etc.
“The meeting is attracting over 100 delegates, representatives of the over 400 indigenous ethnic nationalities of the Middle-Belt.
“We shall through peaceful, but in diligent and persistent manner, ensure that the goals set out by us are achieved.
“We shall meet with other indigenous ethnic nationalities in the country to put forward the demand to restructure Nigeria before 2027, to give room for the participation of the Middle-Belt indigenous ethnic nationalities as equal partners in the Nigerian Federation,” it stated.