"Secretary General of Middle Belt Forum, John Dara, who noted that the reality was that Nigeria would be operating on a new improved constitution at the end of the Conference pledged the total loyalty of Middle Belt people to the document and report of the Conference. “I am the Secretary General of the Middle Belt Forum. I would like to put it on record that the wrong impression that the whole of Northern Nigeria is opposed to the resolutions taken and the reports that are being presented is incorrect. The Middle Belt Forum consists of 14 states out of the 19 states of Northern Nigeria, and the delegations of those states are solidly in support of the outcome of this conference."
“Not only that, we are very impressed with the level of integrity and accuracy demonstrated by the secretariat in reflecting our views. We had recommended that the logical outcome of the constitutional changes we have recommended is that there would be a new Constitution or the 1999 constitution be amended. Whichever way, it is an equation of the cup being half full or half empty.” - John Dara, Secretary General of the Middle Belt Forum.
Blogger's Comment:
The Emancipation of Middle-Beltans and the Disappearance of a Monolithic North. We saw it coming, and we said so on this Blog several times in the past. Just few days ago, August 11, 2014, in one of our articles ,titled "The National Confab, Arewa Irredentism and Managing Resistance to Change", we had this to say:
"I want to repeat: that era is gone – the era of feudal dominance and manipulation of our body politic is gone. There is no longer a monolithic north or a genuine umbrella body representing Arewans or interested in emancipating the talakawas and the almajiris from mental and economic entanglement/slavery."
"The Mud Houses and the unsightly pictures of decades of decadence littering every gamut of northern countryside that the world has come to see and know of the north, thanks, unfortunately, to Boko Haram's attacks, prove how unrepresentative and insincere northern political leaders are."
"Where is the socio-economic empowerment? True leadership is about motivations in power. Though it is lacking nationwide, it is more pronounced in the geographical north of Nigeria.
"Where is the socio-economic empowerment? True leadership is about motivations in power. Though it is lacking nationwide, it is more pronounced in the geographical north of Nigeria.
"Often they apply religion and bogus claims of threat of southern dominance to hijack and arrest the conscience and judgment of average northerners. And in the process, succeeded in under-educating and under-developing them over the years. Not anymore; the cat is now out of the bag. The Sharia Law initiative is merely a facade - contrived to extort trust and consolidate their hold on power. The Northern Elders and The Arewa Conservative Forum do not represent the people of the geographical north - the talakawas and the almajiris. They represent their political interests and business empire."
And on January 02, 2012, in an Article, titled "Rethink Disintegration", we had this to say:
"Besides, the Federal Character and Quota System mechanisms that people from Kwara, Plateau, Kogi, and Benue have enjoyed over the years on the basis of being part of the so-called disadvantaged and protected northern region, pale into insignificance juxtaposed with the large scale killings and colonized status they endured over the years for been part of the privileged Hausa/Fulani zone. So, suffer no more illusions; there is no longer a monolithic northern Nigeria as of old. What is going on right now is a struggle for survival - any means necessary by the Northern Elders and the ACF to consolidate their Business Empire. There is nothing on record to support their love for the talakawas and the almajiris."
And on January 02, 2012, in an Article, titled "Rethink Disintegration", we had this to say:
"Besides, the Federal Character and Quota System mechanisms that people from Kwara, Plateau, Kogi, and Benue have enjoyed over the years on the basis of being part of the so-called disadvantaged and protected northern region, pale into insignificance juxtaposed with the large scale killings and colonized status they endured over the years for been part of the privileged Hausa/Fulani zone. So, suffer no more illusions; there is no longer a monolithic northern Nigeria as of old. What is going on right now is a struggle for survival - any means necessary by the Northern Elders and the ACF to consolidate their Business Empire. There is nothing on record to support their love for the talakawas and the almajiris."
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