☆☆☆As Coalition Of Indigenous Middle Belt Organizations Maiden Sets Stage For Self-Determination And Constitutional Reforms.
By: Our Correspondent

A Middle Belt group, under the auspices of the Coalition of Indigenous Middle Belt Organizations (CIMBO), in Nigeria, ended a conference in Kaduna with a call for restructuring

On the agenda of the conference, held at Epitome Hotel Barnawa Kaduna was unity and self-determination of Middle Belt region.
To them, there is the need for Nigeria’s restructuring through constitutional reforms and actualization of the 2014 National Conference reports.

Issues discussed at the all important conference, included the position of the Middle Belt on restructuring and constitutional reforms, as well as the Middle Belt people’s struggles for liberation and restructuring.

Restructuring and Enactment of the People’s Constitution, Panacea to Peace and Good Growth of the Nation

The conference, attended by delegates representing over 400 indigenous ethnic nationalities drawn from Bauchi, Benue, Gombe, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, 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.”

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), the umbrella body of the entire people of the region, was officially represented, indicating tacit support for CIMBO, according a communiqué issued and signed by Conference Chairman and Secretary, Mr. Timothy Barau Gandu and Prof. Emmanuel Ejeikwu, respectively.

The communiqué, which was made available to our correspondent reads in part: “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, Kwara, Plateau and Taraba States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The Middle Belf 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 Belf 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 resolution taken at this conference are implemented to the later, and that CIMBO should exist at the states and communities.