August 04, (THEWILL) – Amid the ongoing appraisal of the recent Supreme Court ruling on the financial and administrative autonomy of local government areas in Nigeria, some organisations have reignited the call for political restructuring for equity and fairness in the country.
In this light, the Coalition of Indigenous Middle-Belt Organisations has started mobilising stakeholders to demand for the participation of the Middle Belt indigenous ethnic nationalities as equal partners in the Nigerian federation.
Other Middle Belt groups like the Kwararafa People’s Assembly (KPA) had earlier made a similar call for restructuring in the country.
Last week in Abuja, the Chairman of KPA, Mr Timothy Gandu, stated that the organisation had planned a National Delegates Conference for August 9 to 10, 2024 in Kaduna, the Kaduna State capital
According to him, “The goal is to give room for the participation of the Middle Belt indigenous ethnic nationalities as equal partners in the Nigerian federation,” he said.
Disclosing that the conference, themed, ‘Restructuring and Enactment of the Peoples Constitution, Panacea to Peace and Good Growth of the Nation,’ would enable them to make inputs into the call for political restructuring of the country for equity and fairness, Gandu explained that the CIMBO began activities in 2023 following a call by the Coalition of Indigenous Ethnic Nationalities in Nigeria for indigenous ethnic nationalities across the country to come up with their positions on restructuring.
He said, “CIMBO is of the strong view that Nigeria has a constitution that has not given recognition to the minorities in consonance with the United Nation declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities in 1992 and the United Nation Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007.
“This includes the people of the Middle Belt of Nigeria, with over 400 ethnic groups and a population estimated at more than 44 million people as at 2016,” he said, adding that the organisation shall, “through peaceful, but in diligent and persistent manner” ensure that the goals set out by us are achieved.
Citing the 2014 National Conference Report which recommended the creation of more states and eight geo-political zones, Gandu stressed that based on the report, the middle belt was supposed to have three zones – Middle-Belt East, Middle-Belt Central and Middle-Belt West, given its size and population.
He said: “The non-actualisation of the 2014 Confab recommendations and the promulgation of laws and policies detrimental to the people of the middle belt has necessitated the call for all indigenous ethnic organisations to meet and reinforce their stand as a bloc in Nigeria.
“The meeting is attracting over 100 delegates, representative of the over 400 indigenous ethnic nationalities of the Middle Belt.
“Principal amongst the issues to be discussed at the conference are the need to maintain our identity and have control of our ethnic lands, heritage and resources.
“Other issues are the removal of our ethnic groups from internal oppression, suppression and colonialism; to be part of the Nigerian federation and to benefit equally and equitably like all other groups in the nation.
“We also want to support and reinforce all positive actions of Middle Belt organisations, like the Middle Belt Forum, Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Nationalities Community Development Associations, and Kwararafa People’s Assembly among others.”
Recently, the Kwararafa Peoples’ Assembly (KPA), a socio-cultural organisation, called on its people to embrace peace and unity to enable them uphold the defunct Kwararafa Empire’s legacies.
Spokesperson of the KPA, Prof. Emmanuel Oloja- Ejeikwu, said that the people had been neglected and ignored over the years, referred to and treated as minorities, which they are not.
He said, “The solution to this is for us to reunite and come together as one family, imbibe the spirit of strong brotherhood and the spirit of being our brothers’ keepers.”
According to him, the essence of the movement is to pull the people of the Kwararafa Empire together ideologically, so that they can tell the world that they are no longer a willing tool or conquered territory.
“We are the majority, not minorities as we are referred to in Nigeria; we intend to overcome this battle peacefully using our PVCs through our electoral strength.”
According to Oloja- Ejeikwu, the erstwhile Kwararafa Empire occupied at least 27 of the present 36 States, including the FCT. These states, according to him, spread across the current six-geo-political zones, making the Kwararafa people’s demand truly nationalistic.
He added that the people constituted a significant percentage of Nigeria’s population and over the years determined who emerged the winner of presidential elections in the country.
Oloja- Ejeikwu said that the organisation would embark on sensitisation of its communities, villages, elders, women, youth groups, and market women in need for peace and unity.
“The Kwararafa people need to be given the due recognition in the political space and socioeconomic development,’’ he said.
Oloja- Ejeikwu said that it was important for the people of the old Kwararafa Empire to remain as one indivisible Nigeria. Other community leaders who spoke on the Kwararafa vision were Dr Nanchak Nirizing Turakin Gari Langtang North Local Government, Plateau, who called on Nigerians to elect leaders with the capability to revive the nation’s economy, promote peace and unity. .
Nirizing said: “It is imperative for Nigerians to know that without peace nothing works.
“A peaceful environment can only be sustained with a ruler that is determined, knows the people and their problems and can solve them.
“We advise every Nigerian that this time around, it should not be money inducements, tribe or religion, but it should be about who will deliver us.”
Alhaji Ali Na-Ali, Osekalago of Benue, enjoined the people to unite in order to attract development.
He said: “I advise my followers to elect credible leaders, that will lead us very well and take us to the promised land.”
He called on the citizens to shun material and monetary inducements and vote based on capabilities for the good of all. Mr Omale Tanko, Aku-gyogo of Agyogo, said that the conference was meant to bring together the people to chart the way forward for peace and progress.
“We have to join hands together so that the old Kwararafa empire can be sustained,”
“We shall meet with other indigenous ethnic nationalities in the country to put forward the demand to restructure Nigeria before 2027,” said Gandu for the August delegates conference in Kaduna.
Amos Esele is the Acting Editor of THEWILL Newspaper. He has over two decades of experience on the job.
