Middle Belt Forum
Encyclopedia
The Middle Belt Forum is a regional socio-political group in Nigeria
that promotes the interests of the people of the Middle Belt
region, a loosely-defined area between the Moslem and Hausa
-dominated North and the predominantly Christian Igbo
and Yoruba
areas of the Southeast and Southwest. The Middle Belt has a extremely diverse population. There are over 250 ethnic groups speaking over 400 languages in Nigeria, many living in the Middle Belt. The forum serves as a voice for these minority groups.
It is a successor to earlier movements such as the United Middle Belt Congress
led by Joseph Tarka
.
(ACF), which represents the North, visited Jos
, Plateau State
, in the heart of the middle belt. Major General Abdullahi Shelleng
invited his audience to join the ACF. However, in response governor Joshua Dariye
made it clear that he was not interested in being marginalized and would prefer to remain a "middle-belter". In an interview, retired Air Commodore David Jang put the position simply: "Middle Belters are Middle Belters, and we will remain Middle Belters".
In September 2001 retired Air Commodore Dan Suleiman
, former governor of Plateau State and chairman of the forum, said the middle belters are grossly marginalised and have become an endangered species on the brink of extinction and cultural annihilation.
He was supported by retired General Zamani Lekwot
, a former military governor of Rivers State
, who attributed the failure to create a Middle Belt region in 1963 to politicians perceiving the Middle Belt as a threat.
In May 2003 Vice President Atiku Abubakar
met with leaders of the MBF led by Dan Suleiman. He described the people of the region as "patriotic, supportive and selfless Nigerians who have sacrificed much more than the people of other regions in holding this country together". He cautioned the forum leaders to resist infiltrators wanting to cause disunity and instability in the country.
Following another of the recurrent crises in Plateau State, in March 2010 the President of the MBF, Pius Atta called for the name of the North-Central Zone to be replaced with Middle Belt Zone.
In January 2008 a delegation from the Middle Belt Forum led by MDF president Isaac Shaahu
asked former Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State to take over the leadership of the Middle Belt Governor’s Forum, a related group.
In November 2009, the chairman of the forum, Wilberforce Juta
, proposed a constitutional amendment where each state in Nigeria would take full control of its resources, paying a 75% tax to the Federal Government. He claimed that this federalist approach would be fairer and more efficient than the proposed 10% stake in the deregulated oil industry.
In December 2009, at a time when northern-origin President Umaru Yar'Adua was incapacitated, Isaac Shaahu said the Middle Belt would not support Northern attempts to force southern-origin Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan
to resign, but also said he saw no reason why Yar'Adua should not continue in office although sick.
However, in January 2010 Shaahu said that the problem could be solved within the constitution if Yar'Adua were to transmit a letter to the National Assembly directing them to transfer power to the Vice President.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
that promotes the interests of the people of the Middle Belt
Middle Belt
The Middle Belt is a human geographical term designating the region of central Nigeria populated largely by minority ethnic groups and stretching across the country longitudinally. The Middle Belt is indeterminate in that it lacks designated "borders" and is charactized by a heterogeneity and...
region, a loosely-defined area between the Moslem and Hausa
Hausa people
The Hausa are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. They are a Sahelian people chiefly located in northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger, but having significant numbers living in regions of Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad and Sudan...
-dominated North and the predominantly Christian Igbo
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
and Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
areas of the Southeast and Southwest. The Middle Belt has a extremely diverse population. There are over 250 ethnic groups speaking over 400 languages in Nigeria, many living in the Middle Belt. The forum serves as a voice for these minority groups.
It is a successor to earlier movements such as the United Middle Belt Congress
United Middle Belt Congress
United Middle Belt Congress was a political party in Nigeria during the nation's First Republic. The Party was a fusion of two major middle belt organizations, the Middle Zone League and the Middle Belt Peoples' Party...
led by Joseph Tarka
Joseph Tarka
Senator Joseph Sarwuan Tarka was a Nigerian politician from Benue State and a former minister for Transport and then Communications under General Yakubu Gowon...
.
Rejection of northern control
On 9 August 2001 a delegation from the Arewa Consultative ForumArewa Consultative Forum
The Arewa Consultative Forum is a political and cultural association of leaders in Northern Nigeria formed in 2000 which has considerable influence in the political scene...
(ACF), which represents the North, visited Jos
Jos
Jos is a city in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.The city has a population of about 1.5 million residents. Popularly called "J-town" or "Jesus Our Saviour" by the residents, it is the administrative capital of Plateau State....
, Plateau State
Plateau State
Plateau State is the twelfth largest state of Nigeria, and is roughly located in the center of the country. It is geographically unique in Nigeria because its boundaries totally surround the Jos Plateau, having the Jos Plateau totally in its central and northern part...
, in the heart of the middle belt. Major General Abdullahi Shelleng
Abdullahi Shelleng
Colonel Abdullahi Shelleng was the first Military Governor of Benue State, Nigeria from 3 February 1976 to July 1978 during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo, after Benue State had been split from the old Benue-Plateau State.-Background and education:Abdullahi Shelleng was born on...
invited his audience to join the ACF. However, in response governor Joshua Dariye
Joshua Dariye
Joshua Chibi Dariye assumed office as the Governor of Plateau State, Nigeria on May 29, 1999 on the platform of the People's Democratic Party...
made it clear that he was not interested in being marginalized and would prefer to remain a "middle-belter". In an interview, retired Air Commodore David Jang put the position simply: "Middle Belters are Middle Belters, and we will remain Middle Belters".
In September 2001 retired Air Commodore Dan Suleiman
Dan Suleiman
Air Commodore Dan Suleiman was a member of General Murtala Muhammed's supreme military council in Nigeria between July 1975 and March 1976, and was military governor of Plateau State from March 1976 to July 1978 after it had been created from part of the old Benue Plateau State.After the return to...
, former governor of Plateau State and chairman of the forum, said the middle belters are grossly marginalised and have become an endangered species on the brink of extinction and cultural annihilation.
He was supported by retired General Zamani Lekwot
Zamani Lekwot
Major General Zamani Lekwot was the Military Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria from July 1975 until July 1978 during the military administrations of Generals Murtala Muhammed and Olusegun Obasanjo.Lekwot is a Kataf, born in Kaduna State in 1944....
, a former military governor of Rivers State
Rivers State
Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states...
, who attributed the failure to create a Middle Belt region in 1963 to politicians perceiving the Middle Belt as a threat.
Regional conflict
In an August 2002 interview following civil unrest in the middle belt, Dan Suleiman partially blamed the far north leaders for encouraging the violence.In May 2003 Vice President Atiku Abubakar
Atiku Abubakar
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, alias Turakin Adamawa, GCON was the Vice-President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He is a Muslim native of Adamawa State, and was an influential member of the ruling People's Democratic Party until 2006 when he switched affiliation to the Action Congress party...
met with leaders of the MBF led by Dan Suleiman. He described the people of the region as "patriotic, supportive and selfless Nigerians who have sacrificed much more than the people of other regions in holding this country together". He cautioned the forum leaders to resist infiltrators wanting to cause disunity and instability in the country.
Following another of the recurrent crises in Plateau State, in March 2010 the President of the MBF, Pius Atta called for the name of the North-Central Zone to be replaced with Middle Belt Zone.
Leadership and constitutional positions
In March 2005, leaders of the forum called for a restructuring of the zonal set-up in Nigeria from the present six zones to eight.In January 2008 a delegation from the Middle Belt Forum led by MDF president Isaac Shaahu
Isaac Shaahu
Isaac Shaahu is a Nigerian politician from what is termed the middle belt of Nigeria. He was a cabinet minister in the aborted second republic. He later became Chairman of the Middle Belt Forum.-References:...
asked former Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State to take over the leadership of the Middle Belt Governor’s Forum, a related group.
In November 2009, the chairman of the forum, Wilberforce Juta
Wilberforce Juta
Wilberforce Juta was Governor of Gongola State, Nigeria in 1983 during the Nigerian Second Republic, and later was appointed Nigerian High Commissioner to Zimbabwe.-Background:Juta is a Njanyi by origin from Adamawa State, previously part of Gongola State....
, proposed a constitutional amendment where each state in Nigeria would take full control of its resources, paying a 75% tax to the Federal Government. He claimed that this federalist approach would be fairer and more efficient than the proposed 10% stake in the deregulated oil industry.
In December 2009, at a time when northern-origin President Umaru Yar'Adua was incapacitated, Isaac Shaahu said the Middle Belt would not support Northern attempts to force southern-origin Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, BNER, GCON is the 14th Head of State and current President of Nigeria.He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the...
to resign, but also said he saw no reason why Yar'Adua should not continue in office although sick.
However, in January 2010 Shaahu said that the problem could be solved within the constitution if Yar'Adua were to transmit a letter to the National Assembly directing them to transfer power to the Vice President.