Sunday, April 20, 2014

TO ALL NATIONAL CONFERENCE DELEGATES: OUR STAND

ASSOCIATION OF MIDDLE BELT INDIGENES
NO. 31, TAFAWA BALEWA STREET, JOS
08156495692, 08037200640, 08036901250, 08036731300
07th March, 2014
TO ALL DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE

WISHES AND DEMANDS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE NORTH-CENTRAL ZONE
We have taken time to listen to the yearnings and aspirations of the peoples of the six States that constitute the North-Central Geo-political Zone with regard to the National Conference and have articulated these for the guidance of all delegates. Also, their positions on most of the 38 items recommended for discussion by the Senator Okorounmu-led Presidential Advisory Committee are captured in this advisory. It is our sincere prayer that God will use you to bring about the much-needed improvement to the Nigerian body polity.

MOST PRESSING ISSUE
The issue of greatest concern to the people of the NC Zone is the massive influx of Nigerians from all parts of the country for the purpose of settling here. The NC Zone people do not object to this, but two dangerous phenomena are accompanying this seemingly harmless migration. The first one is the attempt by some of these newcomers to usurp the aboriginal rights of the autochthonous people of the NC Zone by imposing their traditional rulers over them and claiming other constitutional rights that they shouldn’t. The second phenomenon is the rapid loss of title to ancestral land. Without land, a people cease to be a people as history has taught us. In order to check these trends, a political solution is needed. The political and fiscal re-structuring of the country into federating units with reasonable autonomy will make it possible to check these two trends. The adoption of true federalism is what we recommend. This the belief of majority of Nigerians as well.
Nigeria practiced true federalism from Independence on 1st October 1960 until 24 May, 1966 when Gen. J. T. U. Aguiyi-Ironsi abolished the then four Regional Governments via Military Decree No. 5 and removed the appellation of ‘Federal’ from our country’s name. The Decree specified that the four Regional Constitutions had been abrogated and that Nigeria would henceforth be called simply the ‘Republic of Nigeria.’ A Unitary system of Government was thereby put in place. Without re-creating any federating units, the 1979 and 1999 Constitutions returned the appellation of ‘Federal’ to our country’s name. We are therefore operating a false federal system at the moment. Correcting this anomaly through restructuring the country into a true federation will solve the Nigerian and Middle Belt political question.    

TRUE FEDERALISM
Federalism has been defined as a system of government in which two or more contiguous geographical regions agree to exist as one republic. Each of the federating units usually has its own Constitution through which it governs itself. However, a federal constitution exists which is superior to those of the federating units. The Federal Government usually has a fairly short exclusive legislative list and it retains authority over matters like foreign policy, territorial integrity, military institutions, currency, customs, immigration and the like.
The federating units usually decide their administrative structures, developmental strategies, exploitation of natural resources, but must contribute funds to the central government by way of taxes and/or a share of revenue as specified in the federal Constitution. The federating units each run their Police commands, educational institutions, roads, Courts and they make their labour laws, traffic laws tax laws, etcetera.
We believe that the practice of true political and fiscal federalism in line with the model briefly described above would provide the NZ Zone people the political space and enabling environment to enjoy their aboriginal rights as enshrined in United Nations Charters.
With this belief firmly in mind, we propose that our delegates to the National Conference demand that Nigeria be re-structured into 12 federating units. Some other Nigerians prefer the conversion of the current 6 geo-political Zones into 6 federating units. We also propose that the opportunity be used to adjust boundaries hitherto ambiguous or contentious. Communities that prefer to be placed together should be allowed to do so, instead of forcing people to share intimacies. Stakeholders should be allowed to dialogue among themselves and come up with their preferred boundaries as long as about equal-sized units are formed geographically and population-wise. Sustainable peaceful co-existence would be guaranteed through this arrangement.                  

PROPOSED 3 FEDERATING UNITS (REGIONS) FROM THE NC ZONE
An attempt would be made here to place communities that have historical and cultural similarities together. The communities affected should be allowed to fine-tune these proposals as they might deem fit.
1.       MIDDLE BELT WEST REGION: This would comprise of Kebbi State, Niger State, Kwara State and all the LGAs in the Kaduna State Southern Senatorial District and Chikun LGA in the Kaduna State Central Senatorial District.
2.       MIDDLE BELT CENTRAL REGION: This would comprise of the FCT, Kogi State, Nassarawa State, Benue State and Plateau State.
3.       MIDDLE BELT EAST REGION: This would comprise of Taraba State, Adamawa State, Gombe State, the 9 LGAs of Bornu State Southern Senatorial Zone and the 7 LGAs of Bauchi State Southern Senatorial Zone.  

BENEFITS OF EMBRACING TRUE FEDERALISM
1.       It will facilitate the devolution of some of the enormous powers that the Federal Government presently enjoys a monopoly of. Items on the Exclusive List like Prisons, Roads, Labour, Creation of States, Railways, Mines and Minerals, Fishing and Fisheries, Aviation, etcetera, will be transferred to the new regional governments, thus creating a leaner and less expensive Federal Government with a unicameral parliament.
2.       The over 250 aggrieved Middle Belt ethnic minorities (who together constitute a majority in the defunct Northern Region) will be able to embark on self-development programs and the economic exploitation of their natural resources as opposed to the situation persisting since Independence in which the people of the far north of the country monopolized decision-making.
3.       This is the political solution that will surely end the relentless armed attacks by nomadic herdsmen on Middle Belt communities that have cost us thousands of precious lives.
4.       Regional religions may be adopted in any Region as desired instead of the country operating a pretentious secular nation. The 1999 Constitution’s ambivalence on freedom of religious practice in Sections 10, 38, 275,280 will be solved.
5.       Federal character, indigeneship and quota system enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, which many Nigerians hate, will cease to be sources of conflict and discrimination. These will be retained and appreciated better by all Nigerians.
6.       The fierce and very expensive politicking associated with Presidential elections in a unitary government will come to an end as regional politics becomes more important to the populace.  
7.       Militant insurgency creating security challenges in the country will lose its relevance as regional governments satisfy their people’s yearnings.
8.       The Federal Government can concentrate on protecting our territorial integrity and forging better foreign relations, instead of the internal deployment of troops in pursuit of an ever evasive peace. 
9.       Regions can achieve faster development in areas of natural endowment, thus diversifying the economy and promoting speedy economic development in the entire country. Regions can concentrate economic activity in areas they have comparative advantage. 
10.   The much-desired State Police will come into the new arrangement naturally. The present Nigeria Police will simply be handed over to the new Regions while the Federal Government retains the other security agencies.
11.   Greater control of resources by Regions will be possible. This will require a re-negotiation of the Revenue Sharing Formula. In a federal system contributions are made to the centre by all regional governments according to natural endowment in order to maintain the Federal Government and to support less endowed Regions.
12.   The yearnings of a majority of Nigerians will be satisfied as we are aware that majority of the 6 geo-political Zones are articulating similar proposals to this one.
13.   FCT indigenous people will enjoy equal status with other Nigerians in the Region they belong to as the FCT Law is abrogated. They should not lose their ancestral lands. Any ethnic nationality that becomes landless becomes homeless and dies. Mayoralty is not desirable for the FCT, but State status.
14.   The pre-Independence fears of Nigerian minorities for which the Willink’s Commission was set up by the colonialists to solve without success, would have been finally addressed and put to rest.
15.   The desire and agreement of the Nigerian people to live with each other in diversity would have been solidified in a federal system. There should be no mention of cessation by any section of the country anymore.
16.   A cheaper unicameral National Assembly will emerge and save the country money which can go into developmental projects.

OUR POSITION ON SOME OF THE 38 ITEMS RECOMMENDED FOR DISCUSSION BY THE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

S/N
ITEM
OUR POSITION
(1)
Political Restructuring of the country: a. Political Federalism. b. Fiscal Federalism, c. Definition of Federating Units: States or Geo-Political Zones
MERGE STATES WITH SOME BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS INTO 12 SEMI-AUTONOMOUS REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS, EACH WITH ITS OWN CONSTITUTION IN TRUE FEDERALISM
(2)
Forms of Democratic Governance: a. Presidential system. b. Parliamentary system; c. Choice between Uni-cameral or Bi-cameral legislature; d. Choice between full-time or part-time legislature.
PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM WITH UNI-CAMERAL LEGISLATURE IN BOTH FEDERAL AND REGIONAL HOUSES OF ASSEMBLYS AND PART-TIME LEGISLATORS
(3)
Good Governance; a. Cost of governance; b. Corruption and National Development; c. Fighting corruption and anti-corruption agencies — ICPC, EFCC; d. Immunity of political office holders; e. Citizenship/indigenes — Settlers dichotomy; f. Justiciability of the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy;
EACH REGION TO SET UP ANTI-GRAFT BODIES TOO. REMOVE IMMUNITY FOR ALL. RETAIN INDIGENESHIP IN BOTH FEDERAL AND REGIONAL CONSTITUTIONS.
(4)
Judicature: a. Fundamental human rights; b. Impunity of judicial officers; c. Review of judicial institutions; d. Sharia and Customary legal system; d. Delays in the administration of justice.

RESIDUAL – i.e. REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT. INCREASE NUMBER OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS AND COURTS. INTRODUCE ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION MECHANISM.
(5)
Democratization: a. Deepening democracy; b. De-militarization of national psyche, c. Democratic culture and orientation; d. Mechanisms for a more inclusive participatory democracy.
REVIEW ELECTORAL ACT SO THAT ALL ELECTIONS ARE HELD ON SAME DAY. INEC CHAIR TO BE APPOINTED BY NJC (NOT THE PRESIDENT) IN LINE WITH THE UMWAIS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
(6)
Political parties, God-fatherism and the challenges of internal Democracy:
MULTI-PARTY SYSEM WITH NO LIMIT TO NUMBER OF PARTIES. DEREGISTRATION OF PARTIES THAT DO NOT HAVE A SINGLE LEGISLATOR SHOULD BE STOPPED. LET NATURAL DEATH END THE LIFE OF PARTIES.
(7)
National Security and Security Challenges: a Security Agencies: Review and re-design of national security apparatus, b. Local Policing, c. Other security agencies.

(8)
State Creation and Merger of States
MERGE STATES TO CREATE 12 SEMI-AUTONOMOUS REGIONAL GOVTS WITH THEIR CONSTITUTIONS. BUT IF NOT GRANTED THEN CREATE MORE STATES.
(9)
Education: a. Investment in education; b. Decentralization and National Education policy; c. Return of Missionary and Private schools to original owners; d. Institutionalizing Tsangaya/Almajiri education system, e. Nomadic Education.
DECENTRALISE EDUCATIONAL POLICY. RETURN ALL SCHOOLS TAKEN OVER FROM PRIVATE SECTOR. STOP ALMAJIRI SCHOOLS OR VOTE EQUAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS. GIVE FREE EDUCATION TO ALL AT ALL LEVELS.
(10)
Health: a. Health Policy, b. Investment in Health, c. Healthcare Delivery
GIVE FREE HEALTH CARE TO THE ELDERLY AND INVALID.
(11)
Science, Technology and Development: a. Science and Technology Education; b. Technological Adaptations and the National Economy; c .Research and Development; d. Promotion and Improvement of indigenous Technological innovations;

(12)
Restoring the National Ethics, Morals and Core Values

(13)
Religion, Secularism and the Secularity of the Nigerian State
RECONCILE AMBIVALENCE BETWEEN S.10, 38, 275 & 280 OF 1999 CONSTITUTION. THEY CLAIM SECULARITY YET PROVIDE FOR SHARIA AND CUSTOMARY COURTS OF APPEAL. ALLOW REGIONAL GOVTS TO DO WHATEVER THEY PREFER.
(14)
Agriculture, Food Security and Rural Development; a. Decentralisation of National Agricultural Policy; b. Grazing Reserves and Cattle Routes Demarcation.
WE REJECT GRAZING RESERVES IDEA. NOMADIC HERDSMEN MUST SEDENTARIZE WITH GOVT HELP.
(15)
The Environment; a. Environmental Degradation – flooding, soil erosion, oil spillage and desertification; b. Climate change.

(16)
Defence: a. Nigeria’s defence policy and posture at home and abroad; b. The Nigerian Armed forces and multi-lingual challenges; c. Nigeria and International peace-keeping operations.

(17)
Tenure of Public officials: President, Governors, etc
ONE TERM OF 6 YRS FOR PRESIDENT AND GOVERNORS RECOMMENDED
(18)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the challenges of conducting free and fair elections.
IMPLEMENT UWAIS REPORT ON APPOINTMENT OF INEC CHAIRMAN.
(19)
Population and Credible National Census;
PAST CENSUS FIGURES HAVE BEEN MANIPULATED. ALL FIGURES SKEWED TO FAVOUR SOME. ONLY SCIENTIFIC SATELITE ESTIMATION TO BE USED AND CONFIRMED INDEPENDENTLY BY UN AGENCIES.
(20)
Land use Act;
REMOVE FROM CONSTITUTION AND AMEND TO RETURN ALL LANDS TO NIGERIANS. NO MORE GOVERNORS’ CONSENT TO MORTGAGE. ANYTHING TO PROMOTE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN VIEW OF 16 MILLION HOUSING DEFICIT.
(21)
Role of Traditional Rulers and Institution in governance at national and local levels;
NO SPECIAL CONSTITUTINAL ROLE FOR TRADITIONAL RULERS. LET THEM CONTINUE DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW. THEY ARE CUSTODIANS OF TRADITION AND NOT GOVT OFFICIALS.
(22)
The Economy: a. Poverty and wealth creation; b. Productivity; c. Diversification of the economy; d. Industries and Industrialisation
PUT IN PLACE LEGISLATION TO LIMIT CAPITAL BUDGET TO MIN 60% AND RECURRENT EXPENDITURE TO MAX 40% OF ANNUAL BUDGETS AT ALL GOVERNMENTAL LEVELS.
(23)
Oil and other Mineral Resources Management, Exploration and Sharing mechanism;
DERIVATION PRINCIPLE TO BE EXTENDED TO SOLID MINERALS PRODUCERS. NEGOTIATE NEW REVENUE SHARING FORMULA. CREATE SOMPADEC FOR SOLID MINERALS.
(24)
Revenue Generation and Mobilization

(25)
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC);
INTRODUCE BASIC MILITARY TRAINING & WEAPONS HANDLING. EXTEND PERIOD OF SERVICE TO 2 YEARS.
(26)
Gender issues;
PROVIDE FREE & COMPULSORY EDUCATION TO THE GIRL CHILD UP TO THE AGE OF 18 YEARS.
(27)
Youth Unemployment and Development issue;
CONTINUE WITH YOUWIN SCHEME. BANKS TO GRANT LOANS TO GRADUATES FOR BUSINESS WHILE THEY DEPOSIT THEIR CERTIFICATES.
(28)
Physically Challenged Persons and National Development;
ESTABLISH GOODWILL INDUSTRIES WHERE INVALIDS ARE EMPLOYED. GIVE THEM FREE EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS.
(29)
Investment in Sports

(30)
Boundary adjustment;
SET UP COMMISSION TO LISTEN TO ALL DEMANDS FOR BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.
(31)
National inland waterways issues;

(32)
Elective Mayoralty Administrative/Legislative Structures for FCT, Abuja
WE REJECT MAYORALTY FOR THE FCT. GIVE IT FULL STATE STATUS AND MERGE IT WITH PROPOSED MIDDLE BELT CENTRAL REGIONAL GOVERNMENT.
(33)
Special status for Lagos;
YES. INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC AT PORTS AND BORDERS & LARGE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS IN LAGOS MEAN MORE DEMAND ON STATE FAVILITIES AND RESOURCES. LAGOS THEREFORE QUALIFIES FOR SPECIAL STATUS FUNDING.
(34)
Unsettled issues of the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970);

(35)
Revising Bakassi;

(36)
Languages and Language Policy;
IT IS DISCRIMINATORY TO ALLOW ONLY IGBO, HAUSA AND YORUBA AS OFFICICAL LANGUAGES WHEN WE HAVE OVER 380 OTHERS. ALL LANGUAGES SHOULD BE ALLOWED PLUS AN INPRETATER TO ENGLISH SHOULD BE THE LANGUAGE POLICY.
(37)
Pension Matters and Rights of Senior Citizens;
SENIOR CITIZENS MUST BE PUT ON SOCIAL WELLFARE AND ENJOY FREE MEDICAL CARE.
(38)
Federal Character
TO BE RETAINED AT FEDERAL LEVEL WHILE REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS OBSERVE REGIONAL CHARACTER.

We wish you very fruitful deliberations.
Yours sincerely,

  
For: ASSOCIATION OF MIDDLE BELT INDIGENES


Hon. Da Toma Jang Davou       Nde Phillip Gompang                    Comrade Pius Attah      
Chairman                                  Org. Secretary                                   Treasurer           
(Plateau State)                       (Plateau State)                                  (Benue State)
  

Barr. Sam Abimiku                  Rev. James Pam                               Barr. Shanka G. Andrew
Legal Adviser (1)                        Secretary                                           Legal Adviser (2)
(Nassarawa State)                      (Plateau State)                                    (Gombe State)


Barr. Emmanuel Yavala            Barr. Sule Kwasau                           
Finance Committee                      Logistics Committee

(Taraba State)                             (Kaduna State)                                                  

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