The Northern minority ethnic nationalities under the auspices of the Coalition of Indigenous Middle Belt Organizations (CIMBO) have called for the restructuring of the nation into regional bases, for unity and peaceful co-existence in the country.

Specifically, CIMBO rose from a two-day maiden conference in Kaduna on Saturday, calling for the restructuring of Nigeria into three regions—South, Middle-Belt, and North.

The ethnic nationalities also demanded that Nigeria’s current 1999 Constitution be rewritten, saying that restructuring and the enactment of a new ‘people’s constitution’ is the panacea for peace and development in the nation.

A communique issued at the end of the two-day conference pointed out that the 2014 National Conference Report should be the basis for the restructuring of the country.

Besides, in a paper presented at the conference by Professor Ejeikwu Emmanuel Oloja, titled “The Position of the Middle Belt on Restructuring, Boundary Adjustments, and Constitutional Review,” he called for the restructuring of Nigeria into South, Middle-Belt, and Northern regions.

“A restructured Nigeria, with a number of units, will lead to true federalism, reduced corruption, and less reliance on statutory allocations from the centre! and this will intensify the struggle for resource control.

“So, in consideration of the foregoing, CIMBO should recommend three (3) regions for Nigeria: Northern Region (North West & North East), Middle Belt Region (Eastern Middle Belt and Western Middle Belt), and Southern Region (South South, South East & South West),” he said.

The conference communique was jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Timothy Barau Gandu and Prof. Emmanuel Ejeikwu, stressing that “the call for restructuring of Nigeria 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 of June 2024.”

“The Middlebelt 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 an inferiority complex, a feeling of second-class status, and peasantization of the people as a result of laws and statutes that tend to limit and imprison the capacity of citizens of such ethnic nationalities from achieving set goals and aspirations.

“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, Plateau, and Taraba States, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) was officially represented at the conference, indicating a tacit support for CIMBO.

“The two-day conference had as its 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 organisations 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 state 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 conference discussed the strategies for actualizing the 2014 National Conference report, the status of CIMBO vis-à-vis other organisations, and how it can be sustained. The conference also interrogated the modus operandi of CIMBO going forward.

“The conference objectives included: – Establishing the stand of CIMBO and its relationship with the Middle Belt Forum. – Identifying the nature of CIMBO’s relationship with other groups and individual socio-cultural organisations in the Middle Belt. – Making clear CIMBO’s position on the restructuring of the country and the writing of a new constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, using the 2014 National Conference report as a baseline for action.

“Determining CIMBO’s continued engagement with CIEN – Determining strategies for constructive engagement with the political and professional class from the Middle Belt to drum up support for our self-determination, sustainability, and continuity.

“Based on the objectives of the conference and the aftermath of the group discussions, the following resolutions were 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 rewritten 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 the creation of state and local police to enhance the 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 Belt 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 CIMBO. – That CIMBO state chapters will liaise with the national CIMBO, which will equally interface with the MBF from time to time.

“Delegates and participants were unanimous in commending the organisers and the sponsors of the maiden conference of CIMBO. They urged the constitution of a formal structure for CIMBO so that resolutions taken at this conference are implemented to the letter, and that CIMBO should exist at the states and communities,” the communique further stressed.