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Northern Minorities Move To Assert Relevance
☆☆☆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.
By Fabian Apechihin
The 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill has moved to the state level following its consideration by the National Assembly, paving the way for state legislatures to consider the proposed amendments.
The development comes amid renewed attention on constitutional reform and ongoing discussions over proposed changes to Nigeria’s governing framework.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has defended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over allegations surrounding borrowing by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
House spokesperson Akin Rotimi Agbese, speaking in an interview with Channels Television, rejected claims that Wike had undertaken borrowing without the knowledge or approval of the National Assembly.
Agbese said the FCT minister could not independently create a sovereign borrowing obligation, stressing that public borrowing is subject to constitutional, statutory and administrative procedures.
“Wike has committed no infraction in borrowings. There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.
He explained that borrowing to finance infrastructure was not unlawful where the required approvals and procedures had been followed.
“Borrowing for infrastructure development is not unlawful in itself, provided the prescribed approvals and procedures are followed,” he added.
The House spokesperson further argued that an increase in the FCT’s debt profile should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of illegal borrowing, citing the scale of infrastructure projects being undertaken in Abuja under Wike.
According to Agbese, the key issue is whether the appropriate approvals were obtained for specific borrowing transactions, rather than simply whether the FCT’s overall debt profile has increased.
The comments come as scrutiny continues over public borrowing, infrastructure financing and the legal procedures governing government debt at both the federal and sub-national levels.
By Fabian Apechihin
The 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill has moved to the state level following its consideration by the National Assembly, paving the way for state legislatures to consider the proposed amendments.
The development comes amid renewed attention on constitutional reform and ongoing discussions over proposed changes to Nigeria’s governing framework.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has defended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over allegations surrounding borrowing by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
House spokesperson Akin Rotimi Agbese, speaking in an interview with Channels Television, rejected claims that Wike had undertaken borrowing without the knowledge or approval of the National Assembly.
Agbese said the FCT minister could not independently create a sovereign borrowing obligation, stressing that public borrowing is subject to constitutional, statutory and administrative procedures.
“Wike has committed no infraction in borrowings. There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.
He explained that borrowing to finance infrastructure was not unlawful where the required approvals and procedures had been followed.
“Borrowing for infrastructure development is not unlawful in itself, provided the prescribed approvals and procedures are followed,” he added.
The House spokesperson further argued that an increase in the FCT’s debt profile should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of illegal borrowing, citing the scale of infrastructure projects being undertaken in Abuja under Wike.
According to Agbese, the key issue is whether the appropriate approvals were obtained for specific borrowing transactions, rather than simply whether the FCT’s overall debt profile has increased.
The comments come as scrutiny continues over public borrowing, infrastructure financing and the legal procedures governing government debt at both the federal and sub-national levels.
By Fabian Apechihin
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed its intention to contest the 2027 presidential election despite the decision of Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The party said Wike’s decision was personal and did not alter its position to participate in the presidential election with its candidate, Senator Sandy Onor. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, made the clarification on Wednesday.
According to the party, a recent conversation between Wike and Onor should not be interpreted as a political negotiation between the minister and the PDP.
“He told Nigerians that Sandy is his friend. And they only had a friendly discussion within the umbrella of friendship. So, that is just a personal discussion between him and his friend,” Mohammed said.
He added that Wike’s support for Tinubu did not prevent the PDP from fielding candidates for the presidential, governorship and legislative elections.
Wike had earlier clarified that his support in 2027 was specifically for Tinubu’s presidential re-election and did not amount to an agreement that the PDP would withdraw from other electoral contests. He also said he never promised that the PDP would abandon its candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
“I said I will support the President from day one. I never told Mr President I will join APC,” Wike said.
The minister also maintained that his proposed Rainbow Coalition was not an arrangement with the All Progressives Congress (APC), but rather a platform through which politicians from different parties could mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election.
The issue has generated disagreement with some APC governors, who have expressed concern about a political arrangement that could affect the party’s candidates at other levels.
APC Progressive Governors’ Forum Chairman, Hope Uzodinma, said the governors would not support any alliance or arrangement that could weaken the APC or adversely affect its candidates.
Meanwhile, APC presidential campaign council spokesperson Ima Niboro has urged Wike and APC governors to end their public exchanges and concentrate on political mobilisation.
“When I said tone down the rhetoric, I do not mean stop working. Stop talking, go and work,” Niboro said.
He urged political leaders to strengthen their grassroots structures and engage directly with voters rather than continue exchanging statements in the media.
“All this shouting is not taking anybody anywhere. Go and work. Go and establish your authority on your political base,” he said.
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