…Demands restructuring, enactment of people’s-oriented Constitution for peace, national growth.
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Middle-Belt group, under the auspices of ‘Coalition of Indigenous Middle-Belt Organizations’ (CIMBO) in Nigeria, have ended its two days’ Maiden Conference, from 3oth-31st August 2024, in Kaduna.
Top on the agenda of the conference held at Kaduna South, among other national issues, includes discussion on unity and self-determination of the Middle-Belt organizations and the need for the restructuring of Nigeria through constitutional reforms and the actualization of the 2014 National Conference Report.
Other salient issues discussed include the position of the Middle-Belt on Restructuring and Constitutional Amendment, as well as the Middle-Belt People’s Struggles for Liberation and Restructuring.
The conference, attended by delegates representing over 400 indigenous ethnic nationalities drawn from Bauchi, Benue, Gombe, Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and Taraba States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, had its theme: ‘Restructuring and Enactment of the People’s Constitution, Panacea to Peace and Good Growth of the Nation.’
Middle-Belt Forum (MBF), the umbrella body of the entire people of the region, was officially represented, indicating a tacit support to the CIMBO, according to the elaborate communiqué issued and signed by the Conference Chairman and the Secretary, Mr. Timothy Barau Gandu, and Prof. EO Ejeikwu, respectively.
The communiqué reads in parts: “The maiden conference of the Coalition of Indigenous Middle-Belt Organizations (CIMBO), was held in Kaduna, from 30th-31st August, 2024, and was attended by delegates representing over 400 indigenous ethnic nationalities.
”Participants at the conference were drawn from Bauchi, Benue, Gombe, Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and Taraba States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The Middle-Belt Forum (MBF) was officially represented at the conference, indicating a tacit support to the CIMBO.
“The two-day conference has as the theme, ‘Restructuring and Enactment of the People’s Constitution, Panacea to Peace and Good Growth of the Nation.’
“The purpose of the conference was to discuss the unity and self-determination of the Middle-Belt organizations and the need for the restructuring of Nigeria through constitutional reforms and the actualization of the 2014 National Conference Report. Two key papers were presented at the maiden CIMBO conference by erudite scholars.
“The first paper was on ‘The position of the Middle-Belt on Restructuring and Constitutional Amendment’ and the second was on ‘The Middle-Belt People’s Struggles for Liberation and Restructuring: The Journey so Far.’
“The papers provided a historical account of states formation and the people’s struggles over time and also highlighted the demands for control of our ethnic land and resources and the abrogation of laws and statutes that promote inequality and suppression of our people.
“The call for restructuring of the country is more pressing now than ever, primarily due to the significant growth and diversity of the ethnic composition of the Middle-Belt, whose population is estimated at 44 million as at June 2024.
“The Middle-Belt has since independence been seen and called ‘part of Northern Nigeria with the split of many ethnic nationalities into states, as minorities.’ This has weakened the ability of such ethnic nationalities in achieving political representation and economic empowerment and development.
“Consequently, this has created inferiority complex – a feeling of second-class status and peasantization of the people as a result of laws and statues that tend to limit and imprison the capacity of citizens of such ethnic nationalities from achieving set goals and aspirations.
“The conference discussed the strategies for actualizing the 2014 National Conference Report, the status of CIMBO vis-à-vis other organizations and how it can be sustained. The conference also interrogated the modus operandi of CIMBO going forward,” it stated.
Conference Objectives
The communiqué also stated that, the conference objectives included, among others, to: Establish the stand of CIMBO and its relationship with the Middle-Belt Forum; identify the nature of CIMBO’s relationship with other groups and individual socio-cultural organizations in the Middle-Belt.
“Make clear CIMBO’s position on restructuring of the country and the writing of a new constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, using the 2014 National Conference Report as baseline for action.
“Determine CIMBO’s continued engagement with Coalition of Indigenous Ethnic Nationalities (CIEN).
“Determine strategies for constructive engagement with the political and professional class from the Middle-Belt to drum support for our self-determination, sustainability and continuity,” it added.
“The conference also agreed that, based on the objectives of the conference and the aftermath of the group discussions, resolved and adopted – that, the country requires restructuring and, hence, delegates agreed to support the restructuring of the country to ensure self-determination and promote national unity.
“That the constitution should be re-written to ensure proper political and administrative restructuring to guarantee justice, equity and control over land and natural resources.
“The 2014 National Conference Report should be the basis for the restructuring of Nigeria. The restructuring of the various security systems is required to ensure creation of state and local police to enhance security of lives and properties.
“That, the status of the FCT must be reviewed in line with the 2014 National Conference. That CIMBO should be an arm of the Middle-Belt Forum and operate as the parliament of the MBF.
“That, continuous and sustained advocacy against discrimination on the basis of religion and ethnicity is required; create state chapters to guarantee the sustenance of the CIMBO.
“That, CIMBO state chapters will liaise with the national CIMBO that will equally interface with the MBF, from time to time.
“In conclusion, delegates and participants were unanimous in commending the organizers and the sponsors of the Maiden Conference of CIMBO, and urged for the constitution of a formal structure for CIMBO so that resolutions taken at this conference are implemented to the latter and, that, CIMBO should exist at the states and communities.
“The organizers thanked the delegates for their participation and appreciated the level of maturity exhibited by delegates. The communiqué was adopted through a motion moved by Mr. Dada Gado Samuel, from the FCT, and seconded by Professor Otumale John Egbere from Benue State,” it stated.