CONTRARY to the belief in some quarters that the leadership of the Middle Belt Zone is divided over the proposed one million-man March by Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS), the leadership of various pressure groups in the Middle Belt have debunked the claim saying, they cannot undermine their brothers.
Speaking with Sunday Tribune over the development, the President, Middle Belt Forum (MBF) Dr Bitrus Pogu said there was no rift in the forum and the entire Middle Belt over the march adding that what happened was just a communication gap and it has been corrected.
“We are in full support of any move that will further the position of Middle Belt on the state of Nigeria and we are one 100 per cent with our Southern counterpart. There is no way we can go against this.
“We cannot go against anything that will further the restructuring of Nigeria, we are working with our Southern brothers. We cannot undermine our brothers in the Diaspora making efforts to champion our cause,” he said.
According to him, the Middle Belt Forum has no contrary opinion on the one million man match adding that the forum, like any other in the southern part of the country, are in full support of the movement.
Also, the Secretary-General of the Association of Middle Belt Ethnic Nationalities (ASOMBEN) Reverend Pam said the association was fully aware of the planned match to the UN headquarters in Washington adding ASOMBEN was fully aware and briefed adequately on the issue.
According to him, the one million man match was being organised to address some of the anomalies bedevilling the country and retarding its growth as a nation, adding that there was also a plan by some members of the association to attend the rally.
“There’s the need to address most of the issues in this country squarely without any prejudice or bias. We cannot continue to rely on 1999 constitution because of so many issues. The first one being that 12 States of this country have already violated it and pulled out of that constitution.
“Section 10 of the 1999 constitution says no state or government may adopt state religion but 12 states in Nigeria have done it. They have technically violated it. Also, the Constitution is full of several flaws. Also over centralised governance, one police force, one army. The Constitution did not permit anyone to set up a security system.
“Recently, ASUU demanded permission that every university should be allowed to have security outfit basically to address security challenges facing educational institutions across the country,” he said.
According to him, this is imperative considering the threat on tertiary institutions across the country adding that despite this the constitution still insists on one police force, one Army, adding that the best practice in the world is that large universities are allowed to have their security outfits.
“I want to declare that there is no crack in the Middle Belt over this one million man march. Our people at various levels are in full support and praying along as well,” he said.
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