BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has declared that is in sync with the Southern part of the country based on the understanding that Nigeria cannot continue in the way things are taking place as presently structured thus, needs an urgent restructuring for a turnaround for the better.
The Forum particularly said that it would not relent in its efforts at going along with other regional groups in the South in their efforts at getting the country restructured until the voice of reason prevails.
President of the MBF, Dr Bitrus Pogu, who stated these while reacting to the position of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), at a meeting with the Northern caucus of the House of Representatives members during the week, in which the AFC placed the lawmakers on alert over a possible presentation of a bill on restructuring to the National Assembly by those agitating for it, said the position of the ACF is not only faulty but unprogressive.
Dr Pogu therefore urged members of the National Assembly to embrace the restructuring of Nigeria, stressing that it is the needed panacea for the myriad of problems confronting the country.
He further said that the Middle Belt people are on the side of the South on the question of tidying up the affairs of Nigeria and therefore implored the ACF and other groups in far north who are afraid of the country being restructured to have a discussion with the proponents on how it can be implemented and its benefits.
The chairman of the ACF and former Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, has told members of the Northern caucus of the House of Reps to be on the lookout for such a bill in view of a statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari that should the National Assembly pass a bill on restructuring, he would have no opposition to signing it.
However, the president of the MBF, said the chairman of the ACF was on his own and not speaking the mind of the Middle Belt, adding that the people of the Middle Belt were not surprised by the position of Chief Ogbeh particularly against the backdrop of the fact that the former minister is more inclined to the propagation of the Northern agenda than the protection of the interest of the Middle Belt.
In the words of Pogu; “Chief Ogbeh is on his own. We in the Middle Belt are working with our friends in the South to ensure that Nigeria becomes a better place for all Nigerians, including the far north who want the status quo to remain.
“We are not surprised if somebody like Chief Audu Ogbeh make such an assertion. Those who are afraid of restructuring are people benefitting from the current situation that is skewed in their favour or the section of the country benefitting from this lopsided arrangement.
“Those of us in the Middle Belt strongly believe that this country needs to be restructured so that things can begin to work. Our perception of restructuring involves devolution of power, state police, among others, to make things work, probably different from those looking for fiscal federalism.
“So, we believe in true federalism. We want a process that will guarantee equitable sharing of resources, where each federating unit will generate its own resources and contribute to the centre, not the present arrangement where everybody is waiting for federal allocation.
“The Middle Belt believes in restructuring. We are telling our members in the National Assembly to discard the position of the ACF and embrace restructuring in total because that is what the people are yearning for.
“The present arrangement breeds insecurity, poverty and, above all, bad governance. And we are equally telling Chief Ogbeh too, that he needs to have a rethink,” he said.
Pogu further said; “Quite a lot of things are wrong in this country. Our electoral system is skewed and faulty. If election results can be transmitted electronically, rigging will reduce drastically. People are clamouring for secession because things are not working in Nigeria.
“If our Northern brothers are frightening, why don’t they invite us and other proponents of restructuring to discuss instead of trying to instigate the Northern lawmakers to toe their path?
“When one cages himself with a particular ideology without listening to other perspectives, there will be problem. I believe this is part of the problems confronting the North. The people are not ready or willing to listen to other parts of the country.
“We need to discuss. The perception of the ACF on this is faulty because the members have created a perception which only they understand. Let them listen to others”.
