THE MIDDLE BELT DIALOGUE

I wish to use this space to announce the launch of a new movement that seeks to promote the actualization of the Middlebeltan in the geographical entity called Nigeria after 50 years of marginalization. All the text below, which includes the communique issued at the end of the their first conference, has been copied from their website. It is a cause to which I fully subscribe:

A Middle Belt Summit organised by the Middle Belt Dialogue held at Manyi Royal Suite, Lafiya, Nasarawa State from 17th to 18th September 2010. Delegates from Kogi, Plateau, Kaduna, Adamawa, Bauchi, Kebbi, Niger, Gombe,Taraba, Benue States and the Federal Capital territory were in attendance. Key note addresses were presented by Professor Yusufu Turaki and Dr Bala J Takaya. Delegates thereafter broke into syndicate groups to discuss issues raised in the presentations as well as issues that had been discussed on the social networking platforms of the Middle Belt Dialogue.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE MIDDLE BELT SUMMIT ORGANISED BY THE MIDDLE BELT DIALOGUE, HELD AT THE MANYI HOTEL, LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE, 17TH – 18TH SEPT. 2010. A Middle Belt Summit organised by the Middle Belt Dialogue held at Manyi Royal Suite, Lafiya, Nasarawa State from 17th to 18th September 2010. Delegates from Kogi, Plateau, Kaduna, Adamawa, Bauchi, Kebbi, Niger, Gombe,Taraba, Benue States and the Federal Capital territory were in attendance. Key note addresses were presented by Professor Yusufu Turaki and Dr Bala J Takaya. Delegates thereafter broke into syndicate groups to discuss issues raised in the presentations as well as issues that had been discussed on the social networking platforms of the Middle Belt Dialogue. It was resolved that the Middle Belt Region would support all efforts by politicians and activist groups to expand the political space in Nigeria as the 2011 Elections approaches so as to allow all groups and peoples of Nigeria to be incorporated into the Nigerian project. In that light, the Middle Belt Region will vigorously support the bid by President Jonathan Goodluck to run for the 2011 Presidential election because he presents the best prospect for more a democratic and just Nigeria. Furthermore, the Summit notes that the South-West, the North and now the South-South have held the Presidency. Consequently, the Summit resolved that by 2015 it would be the turn of the Middle Belt to produce the President. To achieve this noble goal, the Summit calls on all social and political groups including churches and traditional institutions to immediately commence vigorous mobilization of the people of the Middle Belt to come out en mass to register for the forth coming general elections. The Summit notes with great concern the increasing tendency by the Hausa Fulani Oligarchy and also other Nigerians who in their home regions and states forcefully protect their ancestral rights to land and traditional institutions only to deny the same rights to Middle Belters. It is now common practice for Nigerians from other zones to lay claim to ancestral rights of their Middle Belt host communities, sometimes attempting to chase out their hosts from their lands by means of violence. Land ownership everywhere in Nigeria is based on ancestral rights, but in the Middle Belt everybody claim ancestral rights to land and traditional institutions . The Summit therefore resolved that all non Middle Belters resident in our region remain settlers, without prejudice to their constitutional citizen rights, just like our people are treated in other parts of Nigeria. The summit viewed with concern the spate of attacks on communities of the Middle Belt and the complicity of the security agencies in allowing the free flow of arms and ammunitions. It is sad that up to date the people who were allegedly arrested for the genocide at Dago Nahauwa, Riyom and Mazzah are yet to be prosecuted. Over 200 school children at Chwelnyap who were picked by the Army in Jos are still in detention without trial. The Summit therefore resolved that henceforth, any attack by any aggressor on any community of the Middle Belt, would be considered an attack on all parts and people of the Middle Belt. The Summit welcomes the recent changes in the high command of the Armed Forces and other security agencies. The Summit is however dissatisfied that the General Officer Commanding GOC, 3rd Armoured division, Jos, General Saleh Maina who has demonstrated gross incompetence in managing the security of Jos and grown contemptuous of the Constitution. He has assumed exclusive control of the security of Jos and is behaving as alternative governor. The Summit therefore insists that the allegations of extra judicial killings personally ordered by General Maina and other serious allegations should be investigated be brought before a Court Marshall since the allegations are numerous and persistent. The Summit is alarmed and concerned with the continuous selective retirement of military officers of middle belt origin from the Nigerian Armed Forces. Over 40% percent of military officers retired in the recent retirement exercise are of middle belt origin. The Summit calls on the President to institute an inquiry into this situation. The summit calls on politicians and political parties to encourage and support women and youths of the Middle Belt to go into partisan politics and productive economic activities. Mr. Rima Shawulu Kwewum, Facilitator, Middle Belt Dialogue Barr. Mark Jacob, former PDP National Legal Adviser Ms Ngukwase Surma, Political Activist