By JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
In a landmark gathering, the Coalition of Indigenous Middle Belt Organizations (CIMBO) will be convening a National Delegates Conference, bringing together over 100 representatives from the region’s 400 ethnic groups.
The conference, billed for August 9th and 10th, 2024, is aimed at consolidating demands for a people’s constitution, recognition of minority rights, and equal participation in the Nigerian Federation.
CIMBO Chairman, Timothy B. Gandu, in a pre conference statement, emphasized the need for restructuring, citing the 2014 National Conference Report’s recommendations for more states and geopolitical zones, including three for the Middle Belt.
Delegates will push for a new constitution that acknowledges and protects indigenous peoples’ rights, in line with United Nations declarations.
“The current constitution has failed to recognize our rights, our identity, and our contributions to this nation,” Gandu said. “We demand a people’s constitution that gives us equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal participation in the Nigerian Federation.”
The conference will deliberate on the following:
– Maintain ethnic identity and control over lands, heritage, and resources
– End internal oppression, suppression, and colonialism
– Demand equal participation in the Nigerian Federation
– Support and reinforce positive actions of Middle Belt organizations
Delegates are also yearning for the implementation of the 2014 National Conference Report, which recommended the creation of additional states and geopolitical zones to address the region’s marginalization.
CIMBO vowed to engage with other indigenous ethnic nationalities to demand Nigeria’s restructuring before 2027, ensuring the Middle Belt’s voice is heard and its people treated as equal partners in the federation.
This historic conference will mark a significant step towards a more inclusive and equitable Nigeria, where indigenous peoples’ rights are recognized and respected.
As the Middle Belt region asserts its demands, the nation is forced to confront its long-standing injustices and work towards a more perfect union.
