Bomba Dauda
For decades, many ethnic nationalities in Nigeria from different geopolitical zones across the country have been calling for restructuring and constitutional review to re-establish themselves and how they exist in the wider Nigerian context.
These ethnic nationalities feel marginalised, and they organise themselves into blocs, uniting in a common front to make their agitation stronger.
In a document signed by the Chairman of CIMBO, Mr. Timothy B. Gandu, it states that,
The birth of Coalition of Indigenous Middle Belt Organizations (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 country.
It added that, CIMBO is hosting a National Delegates Conference on the 9th and 10th August 2024 in Kaduna, to discuss and consolidate on their demands under the theme: “Restructuring and Enactment of the Peoples Constitution, Panacea to Peace and Good Growth of the Nation.”
CIMBO document in full, reads:
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 Nation declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992) and the United Nation 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 at 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, ie, Middle Belt-East, Middle Belt-Central and Middle Belt West.
The non- actualization 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.
The principal amongst the issues to be discussed at the meeting is 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) To be part of the Nigerian Federation and to benefit equally and equitably like all other groups in the nation.
(5) To support and reinforce all positive actions of Middle Belt Organizations, like the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Nationalities Community Development Associations (CONAECDA), Kwararafa People’s Assembly (KPA) etc.
The meeting is attracting over 100 delegates, representative of the over 400 indigenous ethnic nationalities of the Middle Belt.
We shall through peaceful, but in diligent and persistent manner 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 give room for the participation of the Middle Belt indigenous ethnic nationalities as equal partners in the Nigeria Federation.
