Former presidential aspirant of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and former Special Assistant to the ex-Defense Minister, General Theophilus Y Danjuma, Mr John Dara, has disclosed that the time has come for the Middle Belt to take centre stage in the nation’s politics.
Speaking in Abuja at the weekend during the Middle Belt Youth Forum Stakeholders Award, which had the theme of harnessing the socio-political contribution of past and present Middle Belt leaders in uniting Nigeria, Dara said that as the only bloc controlling 11 states, the Middle Belt is supposed to be the dominant force driving the economy of the nation.
Dara, the Chairman of the occasion, said, “We are the only bloc that has up to 11 states. So, we are supposed to be the dominant force calling the shots in the polity of this nation and driving the economy. More is needed to say we are a food basket. I want to refrain from feeding people.
“I want to make money in the process of feeding them. So if you eat my food, you pay. We must develop economic models that guarantee that Benue is not just a food basket but also goes to the bank for food.
“We don‘t want to grow peanuts and create pyramids in Kano. We don‘t want to grow rice and create pyramids elsewhere. We don’t want to grow cotton and give textiles elsewhere.
“No, we want to ensure that our products result in industries that empower our people so that people will treat us respectfully. The Middle Belt of today and tomorrow should command respect.
“The time has come for us to be the pacesetter in the polity of Nigeria. And that’s why our young people need to understand where we are coming from, from 1951 to date.”
However, he disclosed how the Middle Belt became the dominant bloc, adding, “Ten states of the 19 Northern states in Nigeria are Middle Belt states.
“In addition to those ten states, fractions of four other states, Southern Kaduna, Southern Kebbi, Southern Borno, and part of Bauchi state, are in the middle belt. If you add all that up, we are at least 11 of the 19 Northern states. So, who is the senior partner? Who is the majority? I like to relate to people from the position of strength rather than being on the defensive.”
Explaining why the award was organised, the Acting National Coordinator of Middle Belt Youth Forum, Capt. Brent Kane, who said that they have not been treated fairly, said, “The purpose of this gathering is to recognise what the past and present leaders of this organisation have done for Nigeria in the development and unity of the country.
“The Middle Belt Forum played a vital role in seeing that, yes, they define who becomes the President of this country. Not out of selfish interest but because they felt we needed the right person to be in the right place for the unity of this country.
“The Middle Belt Forum has not been treated fairly, and I will give you an example. The situation whereby you get fair treatment is when your people are well-secured. 67% of the attacks, especially by the herdsmen and bandits in Nigeria, are centred in the Middle Belt Forum region, which means we‘ve yet to be represented, even though the Middle Belt is the region that produced what is feeding the country.
„That‘s why they call the state like Benue, the nation‘s food basket. So, with the contribution of the Middle Belt Forum to Nigeria‘s affairs, we felt Nigeria had not given us fair treatment. And that is why part of the lectures one of the resource persons gave emphasised the treatment meted on the Middle Belt Forum, that the right thing must be done.“
He further said that the right thing must be done, adding that the youth must wake up and rise to the challenge.
According to him, the struggle for the Middle Belt Forum is not about the Middle Belt nation, „it‘s about the unity of Nigeria. Some elements from the country‘s southwestern part call for the Oduduwa Republic. We have some calling for Biafra; lately, we have some calling for the Arewa Republic. The Middle Belt Forum said we will not be part of this. Nigeria is one.“
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