By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
As Nigeria marked its 64th independence anniversary, the Middle Belt (MB) minorities, commonly referred to as the North Central or Northern minorities, have openly called for secession from the North and other regions of the country.
The Coalition of Indigenous Middle Belt Ethnic Organizations (CIMBO) made the declaration during a press conference in Kaduna on Monday, the eve of the country’s 64th independence celebration. In an elaborate presentation, the coalition’s chairman, Mr. Timothy B. Gandu, expressed their dissatisfaction with decades of marginalization, stressing the need for the Middle Belt to be recognized as a distinct region.
“We do not want to be North, West, East, or South of Nigeria. We demand to be properly situated and known as the Middle Belt. We are a majority in our minority and demand that the 2014 National Conference report be activated. Our indigenous ethnic groups are tired of the mischief of being referred to as the ‘Minorities’ of the North,” Gandu stated.
The coalition also supported calls for a new constitution and urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure true democracy thrives. They rejected the idea of government-selected zonal representatives for the drafting of a new constitution, preferring a referendum that includes all groups.
“We have shed enough innocent blood over two decades in Nigeria,” the statement added, advocating for democratic reforms, state creation, and a new constitution.
The indigenous minority also pointed to the successes of smaller nations, like Singapore and Qatar, to counter the argument that smaller states in Nigeria would not be viable.
The coalition, representing over 400 ethnic groups across Adamawa, Benue, Gombe, Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, and other northern regions, called on the government to recognize their long-standing grievances and embrace a new constitutional arrangement that provides a voice for the Middle Belt.
As Nigeria commemorates its 64th independence, the Middle Belt’s cry for equity, fairness, and justice resounds, with demands for representation and an end to the decades-long marginalization they have endured.
