The national president, Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu, in this interview with ISAAC SHOBAYO, speaks on the admission of the Biafra and the Yoruba nations by the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) as its members and the controversies trailing the recognition, especially in the northern part of the country.

WHAT is the position of the Middle Belt on the recognition given to the Yoruba and Biafra people by UNPO?

The Middle Belt is still consulting, but we are with the Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and PANDEF. We will discuss further and this is a struggle that we believe in. We are still studying the situation. These groups are better organised than us. Afenifere and Ohanaeze are better organised. The reason is simply that they are more of monolithic group, while our is a heterogeneous group with nearly 200 nationalities.

The recognition is currently generating controversies, especially in the northern part of the country. What do you make of that?

It is a good development that they have been admitted as UNPO members. If this contraption called Nigeria is not working, why should we continue to pretend that all is well? We have a lot of nationalists among the Yoruba nation likewise in the Middle Belt and the Eastern part of this country. But some people continue to create problems for other groups in the country. Why do we have Boko Haram and Almajiri in the North? They are a nuisance. If some people don’t want to progress, they should not stop others who want to progress or are progressives. All of us subscribe to one Nigeria, but that one Nigeria should be renegotiated. Let us have true federalism so that we can stay together. If some people are tired of being lumped in a group that is making progress impossible, such people should be allowed to go. A common electoral system some people don’t want it to work because they want to continue to manipulate the system to have their way. Why shouldn’t people revolt? What they are doing can be resolved in one way, that is we all embrace true federalism. If we do this, there will be no IPOB, Biafra or Oduduwa Republic.

But the belief in some quarters is that the recognition by UNPO is not legitimate and also not recognised by the constitution…(cuts in)

The issue of legitimacy or not is subject to interpretation. I am not a legal person to interpret whether it is legitimate or not but one thing I know is that our constitution allows freedom to associate. And if they feel that is the way of protest, it is okay. But all we are saying is that let this country work through federalism. It may not come at once, but let us take it gradually and start moving. Let each federating unit develop its resources so that each can survive on its own. Let us give a time frame within which this can be achieved. It might be five years or ten years maximum. I can assure you that all these agitations will go.

Is such recognition healthy for the country at the moment?

Those who created the problems we are battling in the country should determine whether it is healthy or not. You don’t cage people and use intimidation and blackmail to keep them in line. That is not how things are supposed to work. The National Assembly should look at this development with all seriousness and ask: why did we come this far? The simple answer is let us go through federalism, let things work, let the electoral system work so that INEC will not just be doing whatever it likes. Let us go electronic. Why wouldn’t the president sign the amended Electoral Act? If things are working rightly in this country, this would not happen. Let us look at the problem, the whole problem, the root cause of the problem rather than proffering solutions to the symptoms.

Are you saying all these can be achieved through restructuring?

This is what we have been clamoring for. We need to restructure and if we restructure, all these agitations will disappear.


It is like there is a misconception about this restructuring. In what way are you looking at it?

Every section of this country knows what they need. Those of us in the Middle Belt have been struggling right from the Independence under a yoke which has become burdensome. We want states for our people. Look at Nasarawa, since it was created some people outside the state determine who becomes the governor and the indigenes hardly move to the seat and this is happening all over the place. People are coming in and killing others at will and no arrest is made. When you cry, nobody listens to you. People like us in the North want more states where our people can express themselves and live peacefully. Secondly, we want state police where our people can protect themselves appropriately. Even this resource control, there is nothing bad about it. All the federating units in this country are viable; they have adequate mineral resources that they can fall back on. If we can follow this, Nigeria will be better for it.

But because the centre is so lucrative, they would do anything possible to install their own. That is not good and healthy for this country. Each section of this country has its interests, I just mentioned two, there are so many others. Every state has potential. Those that are interested in controlling their oil let them have it. I want to say that oil is not the most lucrative resource in the world. In this country, we have to explore human resources and technology. So, each unit simply contributes to the centre, those things that need to remain at the centre for our common good will remain. If we embrace restructuring and move to federalism, all these agitations by Igbo, Yoruba and others will stop.

But the feeling is that federal character to some extent has not taken care of some of these agitations.

Everybody at the top wants to do whatever they want to do and they will do it without being questioned because our president is the most powerful president in the world. When you said every state must produce a minister each, does that reflect a federal character, especially when every other appointment is going to one section now? This is the time to reflect and take action that would allay our fears. The recognition of the Yoruba nation or the people of the South West by the UNPO is a welcome development.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/we-are-in-support-of-yoruba-biafra-admission-into-unpo-middle-belt-president/

U should go and sleep

But the belief in some quarters is that the recognition by UNPO is not legitimate and also not recognised by the constitution…(cuts in)

The issue of legitimacy or not is subject to interpretation. ..............But all we are saying is that let this country work through federalism. It may not come at once, but let us take it gradually and start moving. Let each federating unit develop its resources so that each can survive on its own. Let us give a time frame within which this can be achieved. It might be five years or ten years maximum. I can assure you that all these agitations will go.

Is such recognition healthy for the country at the moment?

Those who created the problems we are battling in the country should determine whether it is healthy or not. You don’t cage people and use intimidation and blackmail to keep them in line.

That is not how things are supposed to work.The National Assembly should look at this development with all seriousness and ask: why did we come this far? The simple answer is let us go through federalism, let things work, let the electoral system work so that INEC will not just be doing whatever it likes.Let us go electronic.

Why wouldn’t the president sign the amended Electoral Act? If things are working rightly in this country, this would not happen. Let us look at the problem, the whole problem, the root cause of the problem rather than proffering solutions to the symptoms

Words on marble.

in Ojukwus voice...."good morning Nigeria"

Why wouldn’t the president sign the amended Electoral Act?

If the Amended electoral act was pushed because of timeframe and closeness to 2019 election, why cant the NASS push it again to start a trial with Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti, Osun, Kogi and then the 2023 General election..

Are we really pushing to grow as a Nation?..

They are feeling the heat too

Chikelue2000:
in Ojukwus voice...."good morning Nigeria"

Agreed bro but Late Aguiyi Ironsi first made the mistake of unitary government.

gloriaunobi:
They are feeling the heat too

Na them dey feel the heat pass, Fulani's herdsmen and bandits dey show them pepper....

Let them enjoy for now but what I know is that very soon this unholy fellowship shall be destroyed and we shall all go our different ways.
Those who are interested in killing others over two cows will start killing themselves.
Those who enjoy a large chunk of the national cake without making significant contributions will learn to be industrous by the time oil money stops coming

What's next?

Good

Esseite:


If the Amended electoral act was pushed because of timeframe and closeness to 2023 election, why cant the push it again to start a trial with Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti, Osun, Kogi and then the 2023 General election..

Are we really pushing to grow as a Nation?..

There are too many mischievous people in Nigeria.

Not only the north but Yoruba's don't want it too,Lagos state depend heavily on int'l airport and seaport for revenue,give every region same thing and see magic... imagine having an int'l airport in Enugu,a seaport in abia state/IMO state through IMO river or anambra river,an average igbo man especially anambra prefers staying in their state...,do the same in south-south and middle belt and watch every region compete to be the best....restructure the country and most people will be happy..

Lol
These are the people that fought for Nigeria in biafra war
They are been paid in their own coin

A SOLDIER IS USED TO COMMAND & CONTROL MANAGEMENT.

NO SOLDIER UNDERSTANDS AUTHORITIES & RESPONSIBILITIES.

EVEN OBASANJO, THE BEST OF THE SOLDIERS NIGERIA HAS EVER HAD AS PRESIDENT IS VERY RECENTLY JUST SEEING THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

BUHARI IS JUST RULING NIGERIA NOT BY THE CONSTITUTION BUT FROM THE WINDOWS OF A MARSHAL LAW. HE WANTS TO DICTATE WHAT THE STATES SHOULD GET. HE DOESN'T WANT THE GRASSROOTS TO GIVE HIM WHAT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP AND MAINTAIN HIM.

JONATHAN DOESN'T KNOW THIS WHEN HE HANDED OVER HIS NATIONAL CONFERENCE REPORT TO BUHARI AND THAT THREW IT INTO DUSBIN.

ANY AUTHORITY SHORT OF TOTAL CONTROL IS ANATHEMA TO BUHARI. BUHARI"S PREOCCUPATION NOW IS RIFA-RUGA ISLAMISATION FULANISATION AND ANARCHY IF NEED BE.

constant1960:
U should go and sleep

Why?

Get the Middle belt.
Get the South south.
Get the south East.
Get the Yoruba Christians.
Get the Kanuris by giving the ticket to something from North East.

And Fulani domination and Kano Almajiri votes will amount to naught.

But INEC...

llakes4real:
The national president, Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu, in this interview with ISAAC SHOBAYO, speaks on the admission of the Biafra and the Yoruba nations by the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) as its members and the controversies trailing the recognition, especially in the northern part of the country.

WHAT is the position of the Middle Belt on the recognition given to the Yoruba and Biafra people by UNPO?

The Middle Belt is still consulting, but we are with the Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and PANDEF. We will discuss further and this is a struggle that we believe in. We are still studying the situation. These groups are better organised than us. Afenifere and Ohanaeze are better organised. The reason is simply that they are more of monolithic group, while our is a heterogeneous group with nearly 200 nationalities.

The recognition is currently generating controversies, especially in the northern part of the country. What do you make of that?

It is a good development that they have been admitted as UNPO members. If this contraption called Nigeria is not working, why should we continue to pretend that all is well? We have a lot of nationalists among the Yoruba nation likewise in the Middle Belt and the Eastern part of this country. But some people continue to create problems for other groups in the country. Why do we have Boko Haram and Almajiri in the North? They are a nuisance. If some people don’t want to progress, they should not stop others who want to progress or are progressives. All of us subscribe to one Nigeria, but that one Nigeria should be renegotiated. Let us have true federalism so that we can stay together. If some people are tired of being lumped in a group that is making progress impossible, such people should be allowed to go. A common electoral system some people don’t want it to work because they want to continue to manipulate the system to have their way. Why shouldn’t people revolt? What they are doing can be resolved in one way, that is we all embrace true federalism. If we do this, there will be no IPOB, Biafra or Oduduwa Republic.

But the belief in some quarters is that the recognition by UNPO is not legitimate and also not recognised by the constitution…(cuts in)

The issue of legitimacy or not is subject to interpretation. I am not a legal person to interpret whether it is legitimate or not but one thing I know is that our constitution allows freedom to associate. And if they feel that is the way of protest, it is okay. But all we are saying is that let this country work through federalism. It may not come at once, but let us take it gradually and start moving. Let each federating unit develop its resources so that each can survive on its own. Let us give a time frame within which this can be achieved. It might be five years or ten years maximum. I can assure you that all these agitations will go.

Is such recognition healthy for the country at the moment?

Those who created the problems we are battling in the country should determine whether it is healthy or not. You don’t cage people and use intimidation and blackmail to keep them in line. That is not how things are supposed to work. The National Assembly should look at this development with all seriousness and ask: why did we come this far? The simple answer is let us go through federalism, let things work, let the electoral system work so that INEC will not just be doing whatever it likes. Let us go electronic. Why wouldn’t the president sign the amended Electoral Act? If things are working rightly in this country, this would not happen. Let us look at the problem, the whole problem, the root cause of the problem rather than proffering solutions to the symptoms.

Are you saying all these can be achieved through restructuring?

This is what we have been clamoring for. We need to restructure and if we restructure, all these agitations will disappear.


It is like there is a misconception about this restructuring. In what way are you looking at it?

Every section of this country knows what they need. Those of us in the Middle Belt have been struggling right from the Independence under a yoke which has become burdensome. We want states for our people. Look at Nasarawa, since it was created some people outside the state determine who becomes the governor and the indigenes hardly move to the seat and this is happening all over the place. People are coming in and killing others at will and no arrest is made. When you cry, nobody listens to you. People like us in the North want more states where our people can express themselves and live peacefully. Secondly, we want state police where our people can protect themselves appropriately. Even this resource control, there is nothing bad about it. All the federating units in this country are viable; they have adequate mineral resources that they can fall back on. If we can follow this, Nigeria will be better for it.

But because the centre is so lucrative, they would do anything possible to install their own. That is not good and healthy for this country. Each section of this country has its interests, I just mentioned two, there are so many others. Every state has potential. Those that are interested in controlling their oil let them have it. I want to say that oil is not the most lucrative resource in the world. In this country, we have to explore human resources and technology. So, each unit simply contributes to the centre, those things that need to remain at the centre for our common good will remain. If we embrace restructuring and move to federalism, all these agitations by Igbo, Yoruba and others will stop.

But the feeling is that federal character to some extent has not taken care of some of these agitations.

Everybody at the top wants to do whatever they want to do and they will do it without being questioned because our president is the most powerful president in the world. When you said every state must produce a minister each, does that reflect a federal character, especially when every other appointment is going to one section now? This is the time to reflect and take action that would allay our fears. The recognition of the Yoruba nation or the people of the South West by the UNPO is a welcome development.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/we-are-in-support-of-yoruba-biafra-admission-into-unpo-middle-belt-president/

The fulanis will never agree to the restructuring of Nigeria they know they will greatly be exposed and rendered vulnerable to their enemies one united nigeria is like a shield and cover that they hide under to oppress and also easily steal the resources of other ethnic groups in nigeria.

Bekool:



The fulanis will never agree to the restructuring of Nigeria they know they will greatly be exposed and rendered vulnerable to their enemies one united nigeria is like a shield and cover that they hide under to oppress and also easily steal the resources of other ethnic groups in nigeria.

I don't think they are hiding under Nigeria but Hausa people. The Hausa are the ones they have been using to gather the influence they have in this country. They have impoverished the Hausa people and rendered many of them useless. Their population is just about 20 million and Hausa about 60 million but they control everything in the so called union called "hausa-fulani". I know one day we would all sort ourselves out.

who's this president i don't know
middlebelt na the only thing we sabi be that, support other group from the south ,in the night we go sokoto go lick some ass....
our leaders are weakilies, ss blow pipe before dem hear dem, and these are the people we have something in common, like multi language...
we sef make we find something blow, then dem go hear us......

Nigeriabiafra80:
Lol
These are the people that fought for Nigeria in biafra war
They are been paid in their own coin

everybody fought for Nigeria oga, even the igbos[ikwere in mind]

Kyase:
everybody fought for Nigeria oga, even the igbos[ikwere in mind]

Let them continue playing victim! That would not stop the fact that they are the poorest in southern Nigeria. The north central should have also done well for themselves if not the instability in their region.

llakes4real:


Let them continue playing victim! That would not stop the fact that they are the poorest in southern Nigeria. The north central should have also done well for themselves if not the instability in their region.

Hahahhahaha
Poorest indeed
Says a nobody

llakes4real:


Let them continue playing victim! That would not stop the fact that they are the poorest in southern Nigeria. The north central should have also done well for themselves if not the instability in their region.

don't tell me you believe that nonsense by nbs?

Kyase:
don't tell me you believe that nonsense by nbs?

Do you have an alternate statistics? Please show us!

llakes4real:


Do you have an alternate statistics? Please show us!

explain how benue is poorer than kogi.......
or enugu than benue

Good solidarity!

llakes4real:

[s]
Let them continue playing victim! That would not stop the fact that they are the poorest in southern Nigeria. The north central should have also done well for themselves if not the instability in their region.[/s]

Stop decieving yourselves with that ridiculous and shameful so-called statistics Yeye Kale pulled out from his smelly ass. There is no way SE would have more poor people than SW. It is not possible, I have been to many states in the SW and I know the situation of things there. Some places there are no different from North in terms of development indices. This is the digital age where we can all verify information if we want. SW does not start and end in Lagos! The Yeye Kale guy even said that Osun has the lowest incidence of poverty, Lol, as in Osun-Oshogbo

Kyase:

explain how benue is poorer than kogi.......
or enugu than benue

proeast

I would repeat again, show me an alternate stats to prove otherwise. Arguing without stats would need us nowhere!

llakes4real:


proeast

I would repeat again, show me an alternate stats to prove otherwise. Arguing without stats would need us nowhere!

There are some things that dont need stats to ascertain if they are true or not, how can you tell me the most industrialized set of people in african are that poor oga..... SEE BEAT ME FROM TODAY TILL THY KINGDOM COME I NO GO BELIEVE THAT SHIIIIT

Kyase:
There are some things that dont need stats to ascertain if they are true or not, how can you tell me the most industrialized set of people in african are that poor oga..... SEE BEAT ME FROM TODAY TILL THY KINGDOM COME I NO GO BELIEVE THAT SHIIIIT

You are this and that, are all audio statistics. Ask your people in the board of the NBS how the result was arrived at. Go to the NBS website to see those their board.

How come you are the only ones disputing the result? My advice, you should step up! That is why they release those stats in the first place. All the best!