The Northern Elders Forum has expressed fears over perceived alliance between some Middle Belt leaders and their southern counterparts on issues of national interests, describing it as dangerous to northern interests.

The forum’s reaction followed what it called an attempt to distance communities in the Middle- Belt region in the North- Central from decisions and interests of two other zones of the North-West and North-East that formed the old Northern Region of Nigeria.

In a statement issued in Jos on Monday by the Northern Elders Forum and signed by its Deputy Chairman, North-Central Zone, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, the forum insisted that the political divisions in the country remained South-West, South-South and South-East for the southern region while the divisions in the north remained North-West, North-East and North- Central.

The forum vowed to resist any attempt to distort the historical divides and warned those scheming to cause confusion within the northern region to stop henceforth.

The statement read in part, “The Northern Elders Forum is concerned that several statements have been credited to persons claiming to be the leaders of the Middle Belt Forum and their friends in the southern part of our country.

“The statements claim to speak for and on behalf of all citizens and communities in the states of Middle Belt constitutionally known and grouped in the North Central including Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Nassarawa, Plateau and Benue states.

“They also seek to distance our communities from those in the two other zones of the North-West and North-East that form the North and suggest that we are effectively part of the communities in former Southern Nigeria made up of Western, Mid-West and Eastern Nigeria in our political disposition.

“While we share many bonds with other Nigerians from the three southern zones, we wish to emphatically state that we are northerners and have always been so from the creation of Nigeria.

“Our history, destiny and mode of life have always been northern and our region of the Middle Belt is an integral part of the North.

“We therefore reject any attempt to detach our communities from others in the North by negative interests or identify us with political disposition which are fictional.

“We also disagree with the idea of the Middle Belt that goes beyond the geographical area of the present North-Central zone.”

The statement further reiterated the commitment of NEF to continue to work with other Nigerians from other regions to improve the unity and economic well-being of the country.

It also advised those who speak against their identities to stop henceforth, adding that “there are no ambiguities regarding where our interests lie as they are located with the interest of the north.”

For more details,

https://punchng.com/mbelt-southern-leaders-alliance-unsettles-northern-elders/

Ok

People are becoming wiser.....oga kwande pls allow the masses to choose where they want to belong, you and your family can go and dine with bokoharam.

You cannot force anybody on anybody.
This democracy where freedom of association is allowed.

Middle belt people have realized how deceitful you guys in the Cor North are. This division is what we need to straighten the South

You cannot in force someone to like you

mdshell:
The Northern Elders Forum has expressed fears over perceived alliance between some Middle Belt leaders and their southern counterparts on issues of national interests, describing it as dangerous to northern interests.

The forum’s reaction followed what it called an attempt to distance communities in the Middle- Belt region in the North- Central from decisions and interests of two other zones of the North-West and North-East that formed the old Northern Region of Nigeria.

In a statement issued in Jos on Monday by the Northern Elders Forum and signed by its Deputy Chairman, North-Central Zone, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, the forum insisted that the political divisions in the country remained South-West, South-South and South-East for the southern region while the divisions in the north remained North-West, North-East and North- Central.

The forum vowed to resist any attempt to distort the historical divides and warned those scheming to cause confusion within the northern region to stop henceforth.

The statement read in part, “The Northern Elders Forum is concerned that several statements have been credited to persons claiming to be the leaders of the Middle Belt Forum and their friends in the southern part of our country.

“The statements claim to speak for and on behalf of all citizens and communities in the states of Middle Belt constitutionally known and grouped in the North Central including Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Nassarawa, Plateau and Benue states.

“They also seek to distance our communities from those in the two other zones of the North-West and North-East that form the North and suggest that we are effectively part of the communities in former Southern Nigeria made up of Western, Mid-West and Eastern Nigeria in our political disposition.

“While we share many bonds with other Nigerians from the three southern zones, we wish to emphatically state that we are northerners and have always been so from the creation of Nigeria.

“Our history, destiny and mode of life have always been northern and our region of the Middle Belt is an integral part of the North.

“We therefore reject any attempt to detach our communities from others in the North by negative interests or identify us with political disposition which are fictional.

“We also disagree with the idea of the Middle Belt that goes beyond the geographical area of the present North-Central zone.”

The statement further reiterated the commitment of NEF to continue to work with other Nigerians from other regions to improve the unity and economic well-being of the country.

It also advised those who speak against their identities to stop henceforth, adding that “there are no ambiguities regarding where our interests lie as they are located with the interest of the north.”

For more details,

https://punchng.com/mbelt-southern-leaders-alliance-unsettles-northern-elders/

It's not by force o..... People are getting wiser.

The Republic of southern niger will be their new name, the British put a inept donkey in power so they and cause crises with mercinerries and take spoils of war, Libya just realised their mistakes now it's too late

So what is the benefit of being called Northerners if you are so angry they rather be called Middlebelt?..

There is a "Freedom of association" in the constitution, well these days, who really cares about the constitution..