THE United Middle Belt Youth Congress (UMBYC), a group at the forefront of mapping out the North Central geopolitical zone as Middle Belt has lampooned the north for lining up soldiers from the zone against the Igbos during the Nigerian civil war.

They said the core north easily achieved this by exploiting the command structure of the military and manufacturing fear that Biafra is out to overrun them.

"We know the ignorant years that have passed when we went to war. When they mobilised us to war and told us 'ah they want to terminate you people. The Igbos are majority and in fact they are coming to swallow you people'"

"A lot of us went to the bush to fight. I know how many families of our brothers that we lost in that war. Not to talk about our other brothers, the Igbos who we went to fight ignorantly."

The president-general, Abuka Omababa disclosed this during a courtesy visit of the group to The Moment in Ogudu, Lagos recently saying that the hackneyed concept of 'one north' was also crafted with the connivance of the British to mislead the rest of the country into believing an existence of a gigantic and awesome 'north'.

He added that while it was disheartening enough that they were manipulated into a fratricidal war with the Igbo, the Hausa/Fulani 'were in Sokoto and Kano relaxing and watching the two of us kill each other.'

The group consequently declared that the days they were play-thing in the hands of 'the North' are over for good. They therefore extend a hand of fellowship to other ethnic nationality groups in Nigeria saying that 'without us there is no north; no Middle Belt, no North. If we remove ourselves they are disconnected from Nigeria. So we are the bridge. We have served as the bridge.'

The group said that serial cases of religious intolerance in the north are championed by the Hausa/Fulani who are moulded to perceive non-Muslim practitioners with distaste. They dissociated the Middle Belt from it saying they see others as members of a single humanity rather than with religious or other colourations.

'Prior to the coming of the British, we were occupying our land. We are democratic. We are freethinkers in our various nationalities. If you see a Langtang family; they may have one Muslim, one Christian and one pagan; they cohabit and you will not know the difference.'

'Whenever there is riot in the north, it affects us. Our people run like any other southerner. If you look at these youth corps members that were killed, they brought two to Kogi. So, if Kogi is north, then why is north burying their children?'

Though they blamed the British for grouping and lumping them together with the north, they were insistent that the Middle Belt is not north. Thus, they ask for the official regrouping of Nigeria where they are recognised as distinct federating unit.

'We want our identity to be known. We want to bear our name. We don't want to be covered again...we have the right to determine our own identity.... And we have decided that we are going to do it legitimately. We want to be officially regrouped as Middle Belt region.

'We have the Niger Delta that has been officially regrouped. They are minorities in the south like we are minorities lumped into the north.'

They maintain that gone are the days when they are used as a buffer to protect and comfort the north. They did not see any reason why they would only be used by the north to gather votes during election, and food during scarcity but discarded just as soon as the 'hegemonic' north is satisfied.

'Our resources and land remain closed under the northern Nigeria. And what they do is; if it is time to make use of numbers, our population, they say yes we are relevant. After that; no we are no more relevant.'

'Thanks to the struggle of June 12 which brought President Olusegun Obasanjo to power in 1999. While making appointments he brought General Victor Malu as Chief of Army Staff, Saliu Ibrahim and the rest, then, the north through late Alhaji Wada Nas rose and said that these people do not represent northern interest.

'It is a clear thing that we do not belong there. We want to be separate people, and so shall it be.'

They went on to reiterate their backing to the evolution of a fiscal federalism where the federating units will control the resources in their geographical sphere.

'Make the centre less attractive, so that if you are going there, it is for service. We from the Middle Belt, we will pay our taxes. They should leave Ajaokuta for us; they should leave all those gold, columbite, timber and other solid minerals found in the Middle Belt for us to develop our community.

'What we are saying is that they have concentrated too much power at the centre which is the reason everybody wants to kill others in order to get there. Every region will have to pay tax to the Federal Government.'

Then they upped the ante with some other bold demands.

'We said we need our own 13 per cent from electricity. We need 13 per cent from Ajaokuta, from solid minerals coming from Middle Belt, even from our food. If you see the level of farm work going on in the Middle Belt, you will see why we agitate for Farming Development Commission to provide modern equipment and health facilities.

'Give us also HYPODEC - Hydro Power Development Commission - which Jonathan has already granted and signed into law but has not constituted the board.'

While tracing the history of their struggle for identity, they say that at great cost their progenitors like Ameh Oboni, David Lot and JS Tarka had kick-started this resistance which people like Paul Unongo had continued.

They say that while they remain in touch with their parent body - United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC) - they are determined to add youthful vigour to it, and facilitate the realisation of their dreams of emancipation from northern hegemony and resource control.

'The issue of Middle Belt identity started with the late Ameh Oboni and Attah of Igala. At the northern emirs' meeting, when the Sultan of Sokoto and the rest came, he was told to remove his cap; he said no that the Hausa/Fulani has never been commanders of Igala, and Igalas has never bowed down to them.

'So they threatened that they will show him where he belongs at the next meeting; he too retorted he will show them where they belong. At the next meeting, they insisted and forcefully removed his cap, from which emanated stinging bees that disrupted the meeting. All the emirs ran away except him. But that is the local way of struggling against the domination of the Hausa/Fulani.

'Late Dr. JS Tarka and Paul Unongo, because they were educated, brought it to international attention through the UMBC - United Middle Belt Congress of those days. So the struggle for Middle Belt identity has been on.

They added that when Usman Dan Fodio came with a jihad in 1804, he conquered Kastina, Sokoto and Kano but could not conquer the Lantang and the Birong peoples of Plateau. He was also said not to have defeated Taraba when the state comprised Igala, Jukuns and Tiv peoples.

'He could not conquer us. He could not conquer Middle Belt. So when the British were going they said that these people are difficult to conquer in war, so give them indirect rule system. Co-opt them through the Atta of Igala, through the Gbomgbom of Jos. That is how the British played us to the monolithic north' the group's president-general explained.

The Moment's Editor in charge of daily operations, Martin Azuwike who received the group urged them to continue in the part of non-violent struggle. He said that the nation has so much security concerns which if they resort to violence, Nigeria will have more than a mouthful to chew.

He also said the newspaper will always report their activities with a sense of balance and fairness to others.


http://www.africaundisguised.com/newsportal/story/they-tricked-us-fighting-igbos-during-civil-war-middle-belt-group-says-they-are-not-part-north

Well, I hope you've learnt your lesson

Nobody tricked you.

You guys formed the bulk of the nigerian army among the NCOs.

It is a documented fact that the Christian minorities dominated the NCO cadre and were the main antagonists in the mutiny of July 1966 and the following civil war.

Your reasons for figthing against Biafra was echoed by the likes of Domkat Bali who stated categorically that he feared for his freedom and that of his people under Hausa Fulani domination.

The jazz Don Comot from their eyes

.

RevDesm0ndJuju:
Nobody tricked you.

You guys formed the bulk of the nigerian army among the NCOs.

It is a documented fact that the Christian minorities dominated the NCO cadre and were the main antagonists in the mutiny of July 1966 and the following civil war.

Your reasons for figthing against Biafra was echoed by the likes of Domkat Bali who stated categorically that he feared for his freedom and that of his people under Hausa Fulani domination.

I guess they are still enjoying their lives under fulani domination

Nobody triked anybdy to fight dat civil war.....the northern minorities fougt for their own interest. Dey wer afraid that if nigeria be splitted den dem(the northern minorities) might be islamised by the northern majorities of which majority of dem wer muslims....Ty danjuma, Akahan, Domkat bali, bissala, dimka, Gowon, useni Jerry etc wer all christians and most of dem wer even commanders of troops during dat civil so i disagree with u.

A country comprising of the present five igbo states, aniomas, akwa - cross, East middle belt won't be bad at all.... Ijaws can take there oil and go

This will be a more viable country

There is no course worrying yourselfs Igbo nation do not bear any grudge against anyone. We know you bear majority of the casualty for Nigeria forces but it is war and it has ended hence love and peace is what we have now. Igbo nation will always welcome you and help you to gain your identity. Igbo do not dominate anyone as they believe in harmony, justice and equity not forced peace.

E don set!
People are gradually waking up from their slumber.
That was then, this is now!

North always get pawns to do thier fighting for them and it continues

APC once told us that Nigeria was on autopilot yet it landed safely on the 29/05/2015, but now it has a pilot; and is on the descent, fasten your seatbelts for emergency landing countrymen.

The spell is now clearing from their eyes...

[size=15pt]Na when person wake up be him own morning [/size]

Abegeeee make we hear.............

Hmmmm, fvcking interesting. This na d real disunited Nanjiriya unloading. Everybody eye don dey clear say one Nanjiriya is a big fvcking scam. Lets go ther....

U just dey realise say dat boy na vagabond,happy new year!!!

Nobody tricked them. They hated Igbos just as much the Hausa/Fulani did. The only reason they they are saying this now is because they want to lose their identity as 'Northerners'. They are not fooling anybody. We Igbos know that when the time comes, they will always run to do the the bidding of their Northern overlords same as Yorubas. However, I have to give the middle belt some credit. Unlike the Yorubas that have never had the guts to stand up to the core North, middle belters have on two occasions tried topple them from power. Dimkas coup almost took down the regime of Murtala Mohammed while Orkahs nearly shredded that Babangida. Infact, in Orkahs announcement, he declared that core Northern states were no longer part of Nigeria. I like people who stand up to the core North.

1 nigeria indeed, very somebody will say Igbos are the real problem of nigeria.

We the ONE northern association of northern Nigeria (ONANNY) says hell no to your demand and disagrees with your claims as we all Together ganged up against the igbos on the occasion we stood and declared 1 north,and 1 north shall we remain or get ready to meet us in battle field as no stone will be left upturned,should you fail to heed to our agreement.

Signed; media and publicity spoke person Alhaji Abubaka

'Give us also HYPODEC - Hydro Power Development
Commission - which Jonathan has already granted and signed into law

And yet they voted for APC change or were they also tricked? una never see anything. But the good thing is that una eye don clear albeit a little too late

zendy:
Nobody tricked them. They hated Igbos just as much the Hausa/Fulani did. The only reason they they are saying this now is because they want to lose their identity as 'Northerners'. They are not fooling anybody. We Igbos know that when the time comes, they will always run to do the the bidding of their Northern overlords same as Yorubas. However, I have to give the middle belt some credit. Unlike the Yorubas that have never had the guts to stand up to the core North, middle belters have on two occasions tried topple them from power. Dimkas coup almost took down the regime of Murtala Mohammed while Orkahs nearly shredded that Babangida. Infact, in Orkahs announcement, he declared that core Northern states were no longer part of Nigeria. I like people who stand up to the core North.

mrvitalis:
A country comprising of the present five igbo states, aniomas, akwa - cross, East middle belt won't be bad at all.... Ijaws can take there oil and go

This will be a more viable country

This is the most reasonable post from you but don't reject the Ijaws because there is always a reason for everything.

Gracias.

zendy:
Nobody tricked them. They hated Igbos just as much the Hausa/Fulani did. The only reason they they are saying this now is because they want to lose their identity as 'Northerners'. They are not fooling anybody. We Igbos know that when the time comes, they will always run to do the the bidding of their Northern overlords same as Yorubas. However, I have to give the middle belt some credit. Unlike the Yorubas that have never had the guts to stand up to the core North, middle belters have on two occasions tried topple them from power. Dimkas coup almost took down the regime of Murtala Mohammed while Orkahs nearly shredded that Babangida. Infact, in Orkahs announcement, he declared that core Northern states were no longer part of Nigeria. I like people who stand up to the core North.

you are very funny with this kind of reasoning, you know what really baffles me with you igbos, is the slavering mentality of yours. First of all where some of you guys because it not all of you are crying for freedom in the the country your forefathers fought for to be liberated from the colonial master. The reason why the Hausa and Fulanis now see you guys as slaves is because some of you actually thinks you are slaves in Nigeria. Now, The Yoruba is NEVER and would NEVER be a slave in Nigeria to anybody or tribe for the record, A Yoruba man has Ruled this country during the Military and Democracy(8 years) also we have Yorubas as commanders in higher authorities too so what are we talking about? As you guys can also testify to this that apart from the politics, when we check the basic life the Northern are much more slaves,gate man, shoe shiner to the Igbos or have you seen where an Igbo man is a gate man to a Hausa man? No. So the problem is that you guys lack tactics in politics if not, we ought to have had an Igbo man to be president in this democracy rule.

Any how u guys like strategise it. Apart from benue state I don't think any middle belt would want to associate with other region apart from the core north cos we live together like brothers. Or do u think niger, plateau, kogi, abuja would mingle with u guys... Any way I have 1 thing to tell u guys if u want to be above anybody stop hatting them jst admire their way to success ur hatred towards the north is what is killing u guys

Scholes007:
There is no course worrying yourselfs Igbo nation do not bear any grudge against anyone. We know you bear majority of the casualty for Nigeria forces but it is war and it has ended hence love and peace is what we have now. Igbo nation will always welcome you and help you to gain your identity. Igbo do not dominate anyone as they believe in harmony, justice and equity not forced peace.

bro u can dream chai make me Join una e beta make dat jazz remain for my eye

jneutron4000:
you are very funny with this kind of reasoning, you know what really baffles me with you igbos, is the slavering mentality of yours. First of all where some of you guys because it not all of you are crying for freedom in the the country your forefathers fought for to be liberated from the colonial master. The reason why the Hausa and Fulanis now see you guys as slaves is because some of you actually thinks you are slaves in Nigeria. Now, The Yoruba is NEVER and would NEVER be a slave in Nigeria to anybody or tribe for the record, A Yoruba man has Ruled this country during the Military and Democracy(8 years) also we have Yorubas as commanders in higher authorities too so what are we talking about? As you guys can also testify to this that apart from the politics, when we check the basic life the Northern are much more slaves,gate man, shoe shiner to the Igbos or have you seen where an Igbo man is a gate man to a Hausa man? No. So the problem is that you guys lack tactics in politics if not, we ought to have had an Igbo man to be president in this democracy rule.

You saying the same thing Im saying but in another way. The Yoruba man sold his sovereinghty for political crumbs in Nigeria. While other are asserting their sovereignty, confronting the Northernern hegemons, the Yorubas said "let us never challenge these people because they will allow us to rule from time to time".

zendy:


You saying the same thing Im saying but in another way. The Yoruba man sold his sovereinghty for political crumbs in Nigeria. While other are asserting their sovereignty, confronting the Northernern hegemons, the Yorubas said "let us never challenge these people because they will allow us to rule from time to time".

So broda is see it all politics and no region is a slave, the Yorubas knows that the Northerns has majority power that's why they believe forming align with them will get them into power while in the Southern region there have not being more unity compared to the Northern region. Obj was not dumb when he made GEJ the Vice President and made Yaradua the President if he had made it vice versa, that GEJ president and Yaradua vice, Buhari (ANPP) or Atiku Abubaka (AC) would have won the 2007 election because the north will vote massively for Buhari then because he even won a vote of 18% compared to Atiku 7%. And obj knowing fully well that soon power will return o the South, in 2011, The Yoruba massively voted for GEJ. GEJ won 58.89 % to Buhari 31.98%. Now, after gaining the support of the west, what did he do for the west? Even the SE and SS, what did he do apart from giving them major pofolio Minister of petroleum se, etc all those he gave important ministers totally neglected the west and even their regions. GEJ even did More to the north than than the south maybe becos he wants to gain favor. Was is not the other day a leader from the SS region said GEJ neglected them during the lunch of Ogoni clean up? And after GEJ pushed his political godfather away abi are you not aware of the Obj letter to GEJ and the replied letter. Even the so called politics, the Northern are not really good at it, is just the power of unity among them which the Southerns lack. In that map, it show the state GEJ won in the 2007 election all green is where GEJ and that blue is Osun state where Ribadu won. So it all game and not region should see themselves as slave, because you guys have started calling for freedom in your own country, you are giving the Northerns power now imagine them wanting to start claiming Enugu

WTF is middle belt group?
who are they?
consisting of how many tribes?
whose interests?

RevDesm0ndJuju:
Nobody tricked you.

You guys formed the bulk of the nigerian army among the NCOs.

It is a documented fact that the Christian minorities dominated the NCO cadre and were the main antagonists in the mutiny of July 1966 and the following civil war.

Your reasons for figthing against Biafra was echoed by the likes of Domkat Bali who stated categorically that he feared for his freedom and that of his people under Hausa Fulani domination.

Don't mind the liars. Were they also tricked into voting Buhari against Jonathan.

zendy:
Nobody tricked them. They hated Igbos just as much the Hausa/Fulani did. The only reason they they are saying this now is because they want to lose their identity as 'Northerners'. They are not fooling anybody. We Igbos know that when the time comes, they will always run to do the the bidding of their Northern overlords same as Yorubas. However, I have to give the middle belt some credit. Unlike the Yorubas that have never had the guts to stand up to the core North, middle belters have on two occasions tried topple them from power. Dimkas coup almost took down the regime of Murtala Mohammed while Orkahs nearly shredded that Babangida. Infact, in Orkahs announcement, he declared that core Northern states were no longer part of Nigeria. I like people who stand up to the core North.

are you minding them? Everyone shud just go their own way

Actually it is the truth dat d northeners discriminate against all. Other groups that are not 4rm dem.