Coalition Of Indigenous Middle Belt Organizations Demands Nigeria's Restructuring, Sets National Conference In Kaduna
The Coalition of Indigenous Middle Belt Organizations (CIMBO) is set to host a National Delegates Conference on August 9-10, 2024, in Kaduna, Nigeria.
The Middle Belt groups made this known in a statement signed by the coalition Chairman, Timothy Gandu, made available to KADUNA POLITICAL AFFAIRS on Thursday.
The conference aims to discuss and consolidate demands for restructuring and constitutional reform under the theme "Restructuring and Enactment of the Peoples Constitution: Panacea to Peace and Good Growth of the Nation."
The Coalition demanded the restructuring of Nigeria, saying this would give room for the participation of indigenous nationalities in government.
The Middle Belt groups lamented the non-implementation of the 2014 National Conference (2014 Confab) report.
The coalition said 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."
The coalition said, "The birth of CIMBO in 2023 became necessary after the Coalition of Indigenous Ethnic Nationalities in Nigeria (CIEN) 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 of 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.
CONFERENCE AGENDA:
Key issues to be discussed include:
- Maintaining identity
- Controlling ethnic lands, heritage, and resources
- Ending internal oppression, suppression, and colonialism
- Equal participation in the Nigerian Federation
- Supporting Middle Belt organizations
PARTICIPATION:
Over 100 delegates, representing 400 indigenous ethnic nationalities, will attend. CIMBO aims to peacefully yet persistently achieve its goals, meeting with other indigenous ethnic nationalities to demand Nigeria's restructuring before 2027.
Read the press release in full:
The Coalition of Indigenous Middle Belt Organizations (CIMBO) is hosting a National Delegates Conference on August 9-10, 2024, in Kaduna to discuss and consolidate their demands under the theme: "Restructuring and Enactment of the Peoples Constitution: Panacea to Peace and Good Growth of the Nation.”
The birth of CIMBO in 2023 became necessary after the Coalition of Indigenous Ethnic Nationalities in Nigeria (CIEN) 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 strongly believes that Nigeria has an imposed constitution that does not recognize minorities in accordance with the United Nations declarations on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities (1992) and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007). 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 of 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: Middle Belt-East, Middle Belt-Central, and Middle Belt-West.
The non-actualization of the 2014 Confab Report, along with 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 issues to be discussed at the meeting include 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. Participate equally and equitably in the Nigerian Federation
5. Support and reinforce all positive actions of Middle Belt Organizations, such as the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Nationalities Community Development Associations (CONAECDA), Kwararafa People’s Assembly (KPA), etc.
The meeting will attract over 100 delegates, representing the over 400 indigenous ethnic nationalities of the Middle Belt.
"We shall, through peaceful, diligent, and persistent efforts, 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 allow for the participation of the Middle Belt indigenous ethnic nationalities as equal partners in the Nigerian Federation."
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