Simplified 'cultural areas'

Good map u hv there Karfe, but I'd say it's quite misrepresenting.

Nowenuse: Good map u hv there Karfe, but I'd say it's quite misrepresenting.

On the previous pages, you will see some more detailed maps. However, all these maps give different levels of complexity and help us appreciate how best we can run a workable structure

karfe:

On the previous pages, you will see some more detailed maps. However, all these maps give different levels of complexity and help us appreciate how best we can run a workable structure

Workable structure in what way really?
For example in d area of plateau state, all dat can b seen is Ngas, wheras there r abt 50 distinct ethnic groups in d state. Beroms and Taroks r very well likely more than Ngas in d state nd they r nt representd on d map. There are more Bachamas than almost any other tribe in Adamawa, but Batta just covers everywhere around that area, how may more can I mention? Sb who really does not understand d complexity of especially minority areas like the middlebelt and Niger-delta areas might just conclude a dominance of a particular tribe as he sees on the map.
Yes d map offers an idea of a level of complexity but to a very minimum and lay extent, d reason why I dnt really like these cultural maps. I believe the best dat should be defined as the middlebelt areas are the areas of minority groups of the central nigerian region.

^^^^
There are several pages before this one which try to discuss the ethnic make-up of the MB with respect to the groups which are a bit more prominent. There are also various maps showing Nigeria's ethnic geography but most of them are simplified and could be misleading but they just try to give a general idea, especially for areas with many small groups

My suggestion is to keep these areas with small groups together as much as possible while granting the large groups their autonomy

For a more detailed map, refer to www.ethnologue.com and check the Nigeria maps

NB. Please read the whole thread and make your contributions. This is an attempt to improve knowledge of the area's ethnic and cultural setting

karfe: @ Obiagu1

If you go into the nitty-gritty of it, Igbo will appear as an ethnic group in Benue, and maybe even Kogi, but that is not my intention. I want to bring out the most prominent groups in each MB state and how they influence local and regional politics, vis-a-vis the MB issue

Bros nitty-gritty or not, I know Igbo land cuts squarely into Benue and Kogi States.

Toaskarity: Please forget all this preaching and fighting for yorubas in Kogi or not We want true fedralism! im igbo from anambra state and i want a stituation where every state should be controlling herself!! wheather Yoruba is in kogi ,Hausa in Niger or Igbo is in Rivers! all that nonsense! they can preserve their culture there. why dont all these tribes go and claim their brothers in Benin/Niger or the slaves in america that were taken from them.

why are the majorities too selfish? Let every state control herself!! apart from abuja!!!!!

This ahmed bello must be a compound fool for saying that! infact let satan cast him from hell!!

Is there any false federalism? The talk about true federalism is a silly cop-out in the political realism facing Nigerians. We must find a way to go our separate ways peacefully or face war.

karfe: ^^^^
There are several pages before this one which try to discuss the ethnic make-up of the MB with respect to the groups which are a bit more prominent. There are also various maps showing Nigeria's ethnic geography but most of them are simplified and could be misleading but they just try to give a general idea, especially for areas with many small groups

My suggestion is to keep these areas with small groups together as much as possible while granting the large groups their autonomy

For a more detailed map, refer to www.ethnologue.com and check the Nigeria maps

NB. Please read the whole thread and make your contributions. This is an attempt to improve knowledge of the area's ethnic and cultural setting

True true yes.
It's really a good thing that we middlebelters are makin it known that we are no longer part of the false 'one north'. We wished to be adressed as central nigerians or midlebelters. The name north central is just very inapropriate.

DerideGull:

Bros nitty-gritty or not, I know Igbo land cuts squarely into Benue and Kogi States.

Pls sir, Igbo land or igbos do not cut indigenously into the middlebelt (kogi or benue). Instead it's d oda way round. There r indigenous igalas in Anambra and Enugu state, and Idomas in Enugu, but very few though. Note that!

Nowenuse:

Pls sir, Igbo land or igbos do not cut indigenously into the middlebelt (kogi or benue). Instead it's d oda way round. There r indigenous igalas in Anambra and Enugu state, and Idomas in Enugu, but very few though. Note that!

There is Igbo in both Benue and Kogi States.

This is just a suggestion.

I think nigeria should completely eliminate the state level of government. We should maintain local governments and a loose regional/federal (parliamentary system) government. Resources and taxes are controlled mainly at the local government.

A prime minister who makes central resources decisions will be elected from all the local government governors. Elections for who becomes the prime minister can occur at anytime of the year. Once opposition feel they have the numbers, they can call for elections( basically just like England )

A president who is simply a figure head with no control of resources but just an extra voice for the people(preferably a very old man/ woman) should be elected every four years. This will also ensure that they is continuity in leadership.

I believe this will solve a lot of the issues minorities have in Nigeria. Gowon's biggest mistake was the creation of states.

Dismantle the states and make the local governments the federating units and let them form loose regional affiliations for joint cooperation. This will eliminate the three big groups fighting each other.

trillville: This is just a suggestion.

I think nigeria should completely eliminate the state level of government. We should maintain local governments and a loose regional/federal (parliamentary system) government. Resources and taxes are controlled mainly at the local government.

A prime minister who makes central resources decisions will be elected from all the local government governors. Elections for who becomes the prime minister can occur at anytime of the year. Once opposition feel they have the numbers, they can call for elections( basically just like England )

A president who is simply a figure head with no control of resources but just an extra voice for the people(preferably a very old man/ woman) should be elected every four years. This will also ensure that they is continuity in leadership.

I believe this will solve a lot of the issues minorities have in Nigeria. Gowon's biggest mistake was the creation of states.

Do you want to retain the current local councils without any intermediate tier before the national level? How do you then distribute functions between the federation and local levels? It looks like a more extreme situation than what we are currently practising where we have 36 "weak" states. However, I like the parliamentary idea. How will the president be selected / elected?

Having replied you, I must still stress that the thread is about discussing the middle belt as an autonomous region (federating unit) within Nigeria, intermediate between the national and the state or local level, depending on what can be agreed

Pharoh: Dismantle the states and make the local governments the federating units and let them form loose regional affiliations for joint cooperation. This will eliminate the three big groups fighting each other.

Regions have to be strong in order to assert their autonomy and identity rather than be a loose, maybe unofficial association of local groups

DerideGull:

There is Igbo in both Benue and Kogi States.

Pls, d igbos found in Benue and Kogi state r not indigenes of either, they all know their roots in d southeast. But igalas hv villages in Anambra and Idomas in Enugu.

DerideGull:

There is Igbo in both Benue and Kogi States.

please sir, stop that rubbish the only southern group in the middle belt and south south as INDIGENES are the yorubas. Not igbos, igbos are not found in the middle belt infact it's the other way around

alj harem: please sir, stop that rubbish the only southern group in the middle belt and south south as INDIGENES are the yorubas. Not igbos, igbos are not found in the middle belt infact it's the other way around

You are a walking rubbish. Do you know there is LGA in Benue State that is totally of Igbo? This same thing applies to Kogi State. How could a so-called Awori wannabe tell Ndigbo the delineated boundaries of Igbo land?

DerideGull:

You are a walking rubbish. Do you know there is LGA in Benue State that is totally of Igbo? This same thing applies to Kogi State. How could a so-called Awori wannabe tell Ndigbo the delineated boundaries of Igbo land?

Grumpy old papa, when are you going to die? Your mates have died and you are still here at home disturbing the peace.

DerideGull:

You are a walking rubbish. Do you know there is LGA in Benue State that is totally of Igbo? This same thing applies to Kogi State. How could a so-called Awori wannabe tell Ndigbo the delineated boundaries of Igbo land?

Pls, I hope u are not mistakin d igalas and idomas for igbos oo. Pls tell me d name of the wholly igbo lga in benue or kogi. I'm waitin
Igbos are found everywhere in Nigeria, the question is where they are indigenous or not!

DerideGull:

You are a walking rubbish. Do you know there is LGA in Benue State that is totally of Igbo? This same thing applies to Kogi State. How could a so-called Awori wannabe tell Ndigbo the delineated boundaries of Igbo land?

Yes I am awori egun and I am telling you there are no igbo lg in benue state. Stop this expansionism agenda, why is it in your blood

Nowenuse:

Pls, I hope u are not mistakin d igalas and idomas for igbos oo. Pls tell me d name of the wholly igbo lga in benue or kogi. I'm waitin
Igbos are found everywhere in Nigeria, the question is where they are indigenous or not!

Good, ask him

Bump...

http://josplateauaffairs..com/2014/01/the-political-question-of-middle-belt.html?m=1


Wednesday, January 29, 2014
THE POLITICAL QUESTION OF THE MIDDLE BELT OF NIGERIA
THE POLITICAL QUESTION OF THE MIDDLE BELT:
THE PLACE AND PLIGHT OF THE PRESENT CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM MINORITIES (CMM)
OF THE NORTHERN STATES OF NIGERIA IN NIGERIAN POLITICAL EQUATION


A MEMORANDUM
SUBMITTED BY PROFESSOR YUSUFU TURAKI*
TO THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 13, 2013

*Yusufu Turaki is a Professor of Theology and Social Ethics. He obtained his Ph.D. in Social Ethics from Boston University, USA in 1982. He has authored many books and articles, among which are: The British Colonial Legacy in Northern Nigeria: A Social Ethical Analysis of the Colonial and Post-Colonial Society and Politics in Nigeria (1993); Tainted Legacy: Islam, Colonialism and Slavery in Northern Nigeria (2010); “Historical Roots of Ethno-Religious Crises and Conflicts in Northern Nigeria” (2013).

Mobile: +2348026268546
E-Mail: byturaki@yahoo.com

Address : JETS, P.O. Box 5398, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria


I. Purpose of this Memorandum

The primary objective of this Memorandum is to present and state the political question of the Middle Belt and as well as to define the place and plight of the present Christian-Muslim Minorities (CMM) of the Northern States of Nigeria in the Nigerian political question. The National Dialogue/Conference should make this political issue a national priority. It has become the only political issue remaining to be resolved as the only Regional Minority Groups that are yet to be liberated and emancipated from the dominant yoke of the ideology and idolatry of NORTH-ISM. The political, social, economic, cultural and religious problems and issues of the peoples of the Middle Belt have remained unresolved because of the intransigence of the dominant political class and elites of Northern Nigeria. They and their ideology and idolatry of NORTH-ISM are strongly opposed to any political liberation and emancipation of the peoples of the Middle Belt. This domineering and hegemonic political culture and posture is being held tenaciously and viciously in spite of the good historical examples from the West and East of Nigeria.

The Minorities of the then Western Nigeria were carved out in 1964 as Mid-West Region by the First Republic. The Minorities of the then Eastern Region (Ogoja, Calabar and Rivers [COR]) were carved out in 1967 as Cross Rivers and Rivers States were created by the Military. Later in 1996 the Military merged Mid-West and Cross Rivers and Rivers States to form South-South Zone. The creation of the three Zones in the North, North-West, North-Central and North-East was a continuity of the colonial political mathematics calculated solely to undermine the political aspirations and self-determination of the peoples of the Middle Belt from a complete domination and servitude to the political class and elites of NORTH.

NORTH-ISM is both an ideology and idolatry which the political class and elites of Northern Nigeria worship. This is a doctrine which has been formulated and it seeks to defend, project, promote and protect the imaginary interests of the NORTH. In national politics, it knows no other thing or no one, except its god, NORTH-ISM. The peoples of the Middle Belt, whether Christians or Muslims or otherwise, have heard and had NORTH-ISM drummed into their ears and to many this has numbed their hearts and seared their consciences and dulled their sense of justice, equity, self-determination and freedom. The invoking of NORTH-ISM as both ideology and idolatry upon the peoples of the Middle Belt is a confirmation of their inferior status and socio-political role within the political schemes and stratagems of NORTH-ISM. NORTH-ISM is a ruse for deceiving political enemies and the peoples of the Middle Belt. In political circles, one often hears that “There is nothing called Middle Belt.” But when it comes to the distribution of political rewards, statuses, resources and values, such are the exclusive reserves for the “Superior Northerners.” The NORTH is ONE in all matters pertaining to anything that qualifies as North versus South, but at home, the geo-political entity called NORTH, we Masters and Servants, feudalistic and clientele system. Any human being who sincerely fears God, his/her heart would be ruled by God’s eternal principles of justice, righteousness, love, kindness and humility. But the historical and empirical evidences show that the peoples of the Middle Belt have been subjugated, subordinated and dominated by the Northern political class and elites. We, the peoples of the Middle Belt, all that we see coming from them is the domineering and disdainful spirit that bears the fruits of discrimination, prejudice, preferential treatment, bias, stereo-typing and marginalization. As a whole, this is what NORTH and NORTH-ISM means for the peoples of the Middle Belt. Based upon this superior-inferior and dominance-subordination relationships, who is that person(s) that is(are) so undemocratic and ungodly in their thinking as to deny the peoples of the Middle Belt their quest for full political freedom and rights. All these freedoms and rights are imbedded and rooted in their inalienable ethnic nationality. Empire Builders of Northern Nigeria have over the decades manipulated the ethnic nationality of the peoples of the Middle Belt as to give advantage to one ethnic group over the other. For this reason, this Memorandum calls for the liberation and emancipation of the peoples of the Middle Belt through their inalienable ethnic nationalities. For this National Conference to fulfill the aspirations of all well-meaning Nigerians, the ethnic nationalities should be given the opportunity to tell Nigerians what the Empire Builders who created Nigeria did to them historically, socially, religiously, economically and culturally. The Northern political class and elites who have benefitted from this artificial creation of Nigeria’s geo-political boundaries as done by the Empire Builders would fight tooth and nail to scuttle such a thing as this National Conference. Or, would want the ethnic nationality be stroke out of the National Conference. This political and social variable cannot be set aside by any elitist or hegemonic fear or anxiety. The National Conference would only be a Referendum for the political class and elites, if the question of ethnic nationalities should be kept aside as some of them are agitating and demanding.

We also need to state our historical reason for this Memorandum. The British Colonial Maters, the First Republican politicians and the Military Regimes and soldiers unfortunately compromised, undermined and suppressed the political aspirations and self-determination of the peoples of the Middle Belt. Can the present dispensation and the National Conference be bold enough and be willing tools in the hands of God and justice to liberate and emancipate the peoples of the Middle Belt. The justification for this historical aspiration and quest is the glaring fact and act of the continuity of the inherited unjust pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial structures of domination, subordination, subjugation and discrimination against the peoples of the Middle Belt. The real issue is not for anyone to seek to demand evidences of such, as they are very good rationalization if issues and self-defense, but the act of a political will and justice which grants political freedom to ethnic nationalities who demand them, regardless. The political mathematics of ethnography, geography and population in Zonal, State and Local Government creations has been the potent tool which Empire Builders and the political class and elites have used to cage the peoples of the Middle Belt and kept them perpetually in servitude to “Monolithic North.” Under “Monolithic North” the peoples of the Middle Belt are at best second class citizens or dhimmis within a clientele and masters-servants relationships. Today, the peoples of the Middle Belt form the Christian-Muslim Minorities of the Northern States of Nigeria. For this reason, their voices, aspirations and self-determination should be heard by all Nigerians and not that of their acclaimed surrogate voices that issue from the ideology and idolatry of NORTH-ISM.

From historical experience and reality, NORTH is not monolithic. The Middle Belt has well over 250 ethnic groups, languages and their dialects. Therefore, NORTH is multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious. We have the Core North (Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri). Hausaland consists mainly of Hausa and Fulani. This part of Nigeria can form a North-West Zone in the New Nigeria which should consist of only the Hausa and the Fulani. The Kanuri and their related ethnic groups can form the North-East Zone as well in the New Nigeria. Both the North-West and the North-East should not have any ethnic nationality append or attach to them. While the Middle Belt being the largest region with many ethnic nationalities can be divided into Middle Belt-West and Middle Belt-East. As for the ethnic nationalities, the ethnic boundaries of the peoples of the Middle Belt were well defined by the British Colonial Maters and other anthropologists and such ethnographic maps still exist. Each ethnic nationality can describe its own ancestral land. The task for the National Conference is to demarcate justly and make clear distinctions of both the ethnography and geography of the peoples of the Middle Belt from that of North-West and North-East Zones as defined above. Politics of freedom and self-expressions go hand-in-hand with specific defined land and boundaries. As at present, the conglomerates of the ethnic nationalities of the Middle Belt do not have specific and defined ethnic political boundaries. Without this being done, they remain politically weak and it is on this grounds that the political class and elites of the Northern Nigeria seek to extend and hold on to the land-mass of Northern Region. There is no political power and control where there is not defined land-mass that creates a geo-political entity. The Northern political class and elites claim the geo-political land-mass of the peoples of the Middle Belt as theirs which is politically wrong. Herein lies the political stronghold of the peoples of the Middle Belt. The Sharia Debates are all about land. So also is the Boko Haram insurgency. In politics what matters most is ethnicity (ethnography) land (geography). The National Conference is the only best forum for the ethnic minorities of the North to discuss the politics of ethnicity and land. Any politics that for the Middle Belt that does include these two primordial social factors is not real and genuine politics for them. The Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri have had their ethnicity and land well defined and they do Nigerian politics based upon their own self-understanding of who they are ethnically, territorially, religiously and culturally. It is this primordial self-understanding that they impose upon peoples of the Middle Belt. It is only a fool who allows other to define who he/she is. The Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri who come to the National Conference, he/she does so with his/her self-understanding well rooted in primordial social factors of ethnicity, territory, religion and culture. They stand upon this primordial social foundations and call the peoples of the Middle Belt that they dare not bring their own ethnicity, territory, religion and culture into national debate. This is blatant political hypocrisy which the peoples of the Middle Belt should never accept. Up to this moment, Nigerian politics has not given the ethnic nationalities of the Middle Belt to define themselves ethnically, territorially, religiously and culturally. This is blatant political injustice and discrimination. All Nigerians know who is a Yoruba, Ibo, Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri, Bini, Ijaw and all in terms of their ethnicity and ancestral land and territory. But who is a Middle Belter? First his ethnicity is not defined by Nigerian politics. Secondly, his ancestral land and territory are also not defined by Nigerian politics. Similarly, he is never defined by religion or culture, but seen as one who borrows religion and culture.

From the foregoing, we can state that the many analyses of Northern Nigeria, whether of its ethnicity, religion, culture, politics, economics, or geography, have always failed to address the political question of the Middle Belt in Nigerian politics. The Middle Belt of Nigeria today consists mainly of the Christian-Muslim Minorities (CMM). The Empire Builders, the Sokoto Caliphate and the Sultanate of Kanem-Borno and the British Colonial Administration have all failed in creating a viable and conducive political and social environment for the well-being of the CMM who reside in the Middle Belt of Nigeria. These Empire Builders created artificial political, social, religious and economic boundaries that grossly denied the CMM of the present Northern States of Nigeria their political rights and freedoms. When the British gave all Nigerians their political independence in 1960, in Northern Nigeria, the instruments of political power fell on the shoulders and laps of the political class and elites. The CMM of the Northern States of Nigeria have been kept under a perpetual internal colonialism as the subordinate subjects of the ideology and idolatry of NORTH-ISM. The time has come for all Nigerians to rise up and speak with one voice for the liberation and emancipation of the peoples of the Middle Belt of Nigeria. This is one of the major tasks that await this long awaited National Conference.

The rest of this Memorandum is an explanation of what the Empire Builders have done to the peoples of the Middle Belt. We need to state very briefly how the Empire Builders created the present Middle Belt problem and the plight of the CMM in national politics. We also need to state how the political class and elites, the politicians and the soldiers have treated the political question of the Middle Belt and the plight of Christian-Muslim Minorities of the Northern States of Nigeria.


II. Historical Preamble and Answer

The answer to the political question of the Middle Belt and the present plight of the Christian-Muslim Minorities (CMM) of the Northern States of Nigeria is historical....

The rest of the article is on the link...

http://nigerianpilot.com/arewas-middle-belt-region/

We’re not Arewas – Middle Belt region

The Middle Belt region of Nigeria, is at the threshold of reviving its cultures from extinction through agitation for distinct identity from the Hausa-Fulani people, writes, correspondent PATRICK OBI.

It was a gathering of who is who of the Middle Belt extraction in Lagos, to showcase the rich cultural heritage of a region presently located in the region of North Central Nigeria.

The Middle Belt region which is a convergence of varying cultural domains and maintains a tremendous degree of ethno-linguistic diversity, with languages of the Afro-Asiatic, Nilo-Saharan, and Niger–Congo families, three of the primary African language groups, all being spoken, the people are unique but yet, distance itself from the Arewa people.
Areas of Nigeria which are generally referred to as Middle Belt are: Benue State, Kogi State, Plateau State, Nasarawa State, Taraba State, Adamawa State, Niger State , Kwara State as well as the southern parts of Kaduna State, Kebbi State, Bauchi State, Gombe State and Borno State.
It is no longer news that most culture and tradition of the ethnic groups in Nigeria are systematically going into extinction due to the influence of western ways of life.
The people of the Middle Belt, in a bid to curb this imminent danger, gathered for a common cause in Lagos recently to reawaken the sliding culture and tradition of a people characterised by heterogeneity and diversity.
At the maiden edition of the Middle Belt cultural festival organised by the Middle Belt traditional council in Lagos, it was a carnival-like event with different ethnic groups showcasing their unique culture.
The event showcased the richness in culture and tradition of the Middle Belt as Langauges, dances, masquerades, clothes and songs of the various ethnic groups were performed to the amazement of the crowd.
Masquerades and dancers of different ethnic group from the middlebelt thrilled the crowd. They include the Eggon’s Anzalu cultural dance, Igala’s Agbaka cultural dance, Okpachina cultural dance (Idoma), Nzei Mada cultural dance (Mada), Ngas Cultural dance (Ngas), Igede masquerade etc.
Significance:
Speaking with Nigerian Pilot Sunday on the significance of the festival, the spokesman, Middle belt traditional council, Chief Abubakar Enemona said that, “This is the maiden edition and we are coming out to tell the world that in subsequent time, this is what we intend to be doing with our subjects so they can familiarise themselves with what is happening.
‘So many of our children in Diaspora are not privileged to travel to their home state; but for those that are born here, events of this nature are meant to show them examples of what our people stand for and some of this cultural heritage we have acquired from our fore fathers we want to showcase them here so that they can appreciate their rich culture and also propagate it. Our culture are going into extinction because we are aligning with the white men what we are saying as traditional rulers is that, we want to rejuvenate our culture, for everyone to see’.
Also speaking, a paramount ruler of the Idoma’s in Lagos, Chief Ebiega Sylvester said; “We come together as one family to showcase our culture as the culture is almost getting outdated and worn out because we refuse to promote it.
“Today we are creating awareness that no matter where you come from, or go to, you must always remember your culture that is very important. It is because we abandoned our culture that is why the white men are robbing us of our belongings, technology and economic benefits. It is a wakeup call to all the kwararafa kingdom and those holding Nigeria together because as a middle belter, anywhere you go to, the people must identify you with your dresses and way of life.”
National leader, All middle belt youth forum, Comrade Aluh Moses Odeh, said that, “When you look at the middle belt, so many of our cultures and languages have gone into extinction and the only people I will give kudos to, are the Tivs. The Tivs are holding fast to their language but all other languages in the middle belt region of Nigeria, has been taken over by foreign languages. This is to reawaken and home call that the people of the middle belt have come of age.” He said.

Political marginalisation:
Reacting to the issue of marginalisation of the Middle belt region, comrade Maha Okpanachi, of the United middle belt Youth congress told this paper that; “when in the early days of Nigerian Politics, J.S Tarka stood up the idea of the Middle belt forum, this idea was received with mixed feelings.
‘’Some elders and politicians believed the idea should be canvassed to establish its genuineness; others were out to rubbish it for lack of merit. The dissenting voices with their northern agenda were stronger but against all odds, he forged ahead with the few progressives of the middle belt politics at that time to make it clear that the Middle belt region deserves a clear identity from that of the Northern region because we are not Northerners. We have so many natural resources that should not be taken for granted by any geopolitical region in Nigeria. We do not have mono religious belief as some claimed that we are purely Muslims. The head of the family in the middle belt can be a Muslim while the children or the wife could be a Christians or outright pagans. This distinct identity can hardly be seen in other regions in Nigeria’’.
Continuing, he said, “the political segregation being called and paraded by some people as North Central, is erroneous as we traditional fathers want to be identified as Middle belters. We have carved a niche for this country and to whom much is given, much is expected. We are saying that we are not Arewas: we are from the Middle belt and when you see the geographical location of the Middle Belt you will understand that truly we are ‘Middle belters’. If you are coming from the north, east, west and south you end up in our place so we hold this country in unity which we have been doing and this has been our projection’’.
Again, he said; “We are blessed with human and natural resources but unfortunately, when it comes to equity we are not taking care of by the government; the past and the present. All we are asking for as traditional rulers in this part of the nation is to ensure that equity, justice and fairness is upheld so that our people will begin to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
“We are not asking for much, but we should have the blessings from subsequent governments so that we middle belters can partake. At our place, the situation is appalling, the road network as well as federal institutions are in a deplorable state. But, the subsequent neglect of the government is our concern so, we are putting heads together to ensure that we package ourselves very well so that government would come to our aid and recognise this people that have been able to cement and bring this country under one umbrella. What we are pursuing is a cause for Paul Unongo, J S Tarka and Solomon Lar of blessed memory.”
Also Sharing the views of Enemona, Chairman Eggon Cultural Association, Lagos branch, Mr. Esson Soja, said, “When you look at the trend of happenings in Nigeria, the Middle Belt has gone a long way. Long before now, the middlebelt has been holding this country together. We are the belt of the nation but in most cases, we have often been used and dumped. When it comes to the sharing of the national cake, they call us “Arna” or even igbos and the unfortunate thing is that, in Yoruba land, they see us as northerners the Igbos also see us in the same light.
“Today, we want to tell the whole world that, we are Middle belt of the nation and looking from the military to the democratic dispensation, we are the one holding the nation.”
Also, Odeh said, “As a youth from the Middle Belt, our pains and bitterness is that, Prospective presidents of Nigeria, often go to the Sultan of Sokoto to seek his consent to be the president of Nigeria, but the Tor Tiv is there no one knows if he is existing. We are a people with distinct identity. We want things to be put clear because we have made a lot of sacrifice. During the Civil War, our father, General Yakubu Gowon fought to put this country as one even though some people see it as against the Igbos but that is not the truth but for the unity of Nigeria.”
On his part, Chief Ebiega said, “When we look at the Middle belt culturally I will eliminate that name Middle Belt but call it a Kwararafa kingdom, a kingdom that was given birth to by the Middle Belt, the people that hold the country together. If you remove us from this country, the country will go astray.”

2015 elections:
The middlebelt traditional council spokesman, Enemona speaking on the forthcoming general elections said; “My advice to the middle belters is that we have stood our ground and I would not want any Middle Belt man to go into any act of thuggery, take the laws into his hands or be engaged in any form of destruction, or foment trouble because we have kept this country unique and because we are known for unique culture.
“Anybody from the Middle belt, who wants to vote, should vote according to what he sees on ground. They must assess the political party they are going to vote or support. Look at what they have done and their antecedents and see if they can project the course and the feelings of their people then vote rightly.”

karfe:
ADAMAWA STATE:

Due to the multiplicity of ethnic groups within this state of 21 LGA's and their differences with the Hausa-Fulani-Kanuri, we are encouraged to include this state in the MB region. However, the strength of the Fulani politically is overwhelming. An article I read says the Fulani population of the state is about 3%. There is strong islamic presence as well, even among the non-Fulani groups. The most prominent local groups are the Bachama and Higgi. The Bura and Marghi can be found here, but are mainly in Borno State to the north of this state

One other point to note is that the Fulani in this state are slightly different in origin from those in other Nigerian states. They are closely related to the Adamawa Fulfulde speakers in Garoua and Maroua, Cameroon

Just to note. Unlike the article in the original post of this thread, I am of the opinion that ethnicity, and not Islamic or Christian origins, should determine the make-up of the MB region. However, some ethnic groups have been so affected by Islam (or the Hausa culture?) in the MB that they have a closer affinity with the core north than other MB groups

wow, just wow! fulani population at 3%?? so let's assume that what u are saying is correct, where in the whole of Nigeria can we find the percentage of fulani above that of adamawa since they are just a meagre 3% in the place where everybody knows is their land. I am frm adamawa and also fulani, u can help me by explaining more.

gwales:
wow, just wow! fulani population at 3%?? so let's assume that what u are saying is correct, where in the whole of Nigeria can we find the percentage of fulani above that of adamawa since they are just a meagre 3% in the place where everybody knows is their land. I am frm adamawa and also fulani, u can help me by explaining more.

I only quoted an old article. Do not be amazed or express shock. If you have better information you can educate us. I know there are Fulani speakers mainly in Adamawa and other NE states while the Fulani in the NW speak more of Hausa. I also know there are many non-Fulani in the North East who speak Fulani

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Non-Yoruba Kwara
Non-Yoruba Kogi
Benue
Niger
Nasarawa
Plateau
Taraba
Adamawa
Southern Kaduna
Southern Kebbi
Southern Bauchi
Southern Gombe
Southern Borno

i hope am not too late in this thread cos i can see its about 5yrs old. First I must say i was so impress when i stumbled across this article and i could see the passion mb ple share here which i very encouraging. I thouht i was the only one with such an idea and i hope it hasnt died down. In short i want to create a youtube channel and blogs to create massive awareness. Yes this is what i want to do with my life. Am in my late 20s so am still young with the energy and drive for this course.But the challenge is getting people to be interested in this course and be united, i know pushing for mb to break into a country is far cry, but at least dont we reserve the right to determine our destiny. our people are being killed and segregated and we watch like chickens. Dont we think something has to be done? Peace people

We are fast losing our culture, identity,LANGUAGES.
languages especially in plateau, Nassarawa, Taraba, parts of Adamawa and Niger states we foolishly teach our children hausa language instead of our mother tongue. Many of us cant identify with our tribesmen cos we cant speak our dialect. The only language we brought up with is Hausa.

We must rid ourselves of any politician that claims to represent us yet dances with the devil. if a revolution is to be in Nigeria it should we Middle Beltans that should Spear head it cos We suffered the most. A revolution is coming soon and it is we the youths who are determinant of this. Please let us rethink our position in Nigeria.

Let's think for a moment Biafra is actualised and odudua succeeds in breaking off also, what is left of us? Who do we follow? which identity will we fall under? is it then that we begin to fight the core North for freedom? That would be hopelss. We need to show more strength than weakness, our strength is in uniting ourselves. i am not a politician but I fight for this course.