The President, Middle Belt Forum, Bitrus Pogu, shares with MUHAMMED LAWAL his thoughts on Nigeria’s 63rd independence anniversary and how the region has fared since then
Since Nigeria got its independence in 1960, do you think the country has a lot to celebrate or you align with those who feel there is not much to celebrate?
Of course, we have a lot to celebrate, and we have developed. Now, we can boast of infrastructure, which was not there – roads, water supply, electricity, etc. Unfortunately, we are not moving at the pace we would have loved to. When we should progress, we are retrogressing. After independence when the military came in, we had Nigeria Airways and it was functioning. However, these things collapsed and we are going back to build them again. In many sectors, including our democratic development, we have moved forward, as we changed from a parliamentary system of government to a presidential system, in line with the American system. We moved from having four regions to 36 states. Power has been brought closer to the people than when Nigeria started. When we compare ourselves with countries we started with, like our Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, whereas Brazil’s weapons manufacturing company and its military industrial complex, Embraer, founded in 1960 like DICON, has built capacity. Some of them are making aircraft, warplanes and so on. Our own has been transformed into a furniture manufacturing company. Instead of moving forward, we are moving backward. We have moved forward in education as we have professors and doctors in all fields, etc. When we look at all of these, we can say we have progressed from areas we were so deficient. However, we have to move beyond where we are now because the countries that we started together have left us behind.
For the past 63 years, how would you say the Middle Belt has fared in the Nigerian state?
The Middle Belt has been the most battered region in this country. Before independence, we suffered from what the British called indirect rule, placing our people under the caliphate system and sultanate of Borno. For instance, areas of Adamawa State where our people were dominant, they took the Fulani because of the caliphate and placed them over our people. Now, we still have internal colonialism because of this colonial rule. The Shehu is the paramount ruler of Borno. Before the British came, we had nothing to do with them. This obtains in many parts of the Middle Belt, creating unnecessary crises. Bauchi and many other places are still suffering from such. Even in Igala, the colonial masters messed things up and we are still struggling to solve them. State creation has also contributed to some of our problems. Again, the attacks by armed militia, the terrorists; if you look at the impact of the attack, it was targeted at the Middle Belt – Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi, Kogi, Southern Borno and Northern Adamawa. The Middle Belt has been under attack because of the North and that has not allowed us to develop the way we should. They always use us for their political gains.
You have been lending your voice to the clamour for the development of the region, what are the reservations or agitations of your region that you want the government to address?
The Middle Belt is the zone of solid minerals in Nigeria. Mining and others started in the Middle Belt. For instance, lithium determines the energy source of the future. Even the iron ore is in the Middle Belt at Ajaokuta, including other resources that will develop the country. A chunk of electricity resources are in the Middle Belt. The government should develop the solid minerals so that Nigeria can have huge revenue. We have clamoured for the restructuring of this country. With this, we will see the devolution of power to our states, solving boundary issues and addressing the minority, which have been so oppressed by the majority. For instance, Southern Borno has been oppressed by the Kanuri. Restructuring is necessary for the Middle Belt to reach its full potential. We are highly educated and we can compete in every sphere of life.
The Middle Belt has produced Heads of State, especially during the military era, talk of Babangida, Abdulsalami and Gowon, how do you think this has impacted your region, positively or negatively?
Gowon came in the modest nature of the Middle Belt; he did not see himself as being from the Middle Belt, but as a Nigerian. He was interested in uniting and developing Nigeria. The creation of states and every other thing that favoured the North was done by General Ibrahim Babangida, where Katsina, Kano, etc. have so many local governments while some areas were left with limited local governments. Instead of moving the Middle Belt forward, he drew the Middle Belt backward. Abdulsalami came in through a transitional government which ushered in democracy; we cannot rate him in terms of what he did.
The northern region is leading the rest in terms of negative developmental indices, like illiteracy, number of out-of-school children, child marriage, poverty and the like, yet the region has ruled the country more than the South. How come your region’s share of leadership since independence has not translated to the rapid development of the region?
We have the wrong people in office. If we have the right people in office, within eight years the country can be transformed positively. Rather than developing the country, some people are pursuing tribal, religious and ethnic objectives and these are affecting the country today. We have no reason to have militia and people disguising to fight for religion while they fight for another interest. Bad leaders coming to power has to change. If the North does not get that right, they will keep languishing in poverty, terrorism and all vices that are negative in terms of development indices.
Middle-Belt youths have opposed being together with the North. In 2019, they alleged that the core North persistently seek their destruction and annihilation by aiding the invasion of their communities, which sometimes lead to raping of women and children, killing, maiming and displacing people for the purpose of taking over the ancestral land and enslaving their people. Those were weighty allegations, is that what the region believes?
Yes, the North is responsible for all of these. The introduction of Boko Haram and herdsmen militia are all from the North. It is not a Middle Belt thing. If the youths make such an assertion, they are correct. We told the government that they have no political will to stop this nonsense. The government knows how to combat this banditry but they are exercising restraint from protecting communities. You win a war through offensive attacks. You know where they are and you should go there to attack them ruthlessly.
In what ways has your alliance with the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, PANDEF and Afenifere yielded results?
Our alliance has formed a new political and geopolitical arrangement in the country. Before, the South saw us as an appendage and cannon fodder of the far North. Today, we can sit together and say look, this is where our interest lies and that interest is good for Nigeria. We are not interested in this divide technique to advance their objectives. Our alliance is a welcome development and a good one. In the last election, we talked about equity and fairness and we concluded that the presidency has to go to the South. We all agreed that it should go to the South-East and it led to the emergence of Peter Obi. Initially, they wanted a northerner to succeed Muhammadu Buhari, but we said no. Our alliance is good for Nigeria and it will continue to be used for the interest of Nigeria.
In some interviews you granted, you said there is a clear difference between the North and the Middle Belt but many Nigerians believe North is North, why don’t you want to associate with the North?
It was the British who lumped everyone together. They created the demography of North, South, etc. We have suffered immensely with regard to the indirect rule introduced by the British government. Going by our forebears, we are the middle belters. In 1957 to 1959, the middle belters were clearly defined as a people who were neither under the caliphate nor under the sultanate of Borno before the British came. So, we want to remain the same way to contribute to the development of Nigeria rather than being under the colonial arrangement of the caliphate or sultanate of Borno. We want a united Nigeria where religion does not determine the progress of a person and people can aspire to the highest office and get elected.
Now that you don’t seem to trust the North and the core North feels the Middle Belt is pro-South, why the mutual suspicion?
Why should we trust people who have been oppressing us; nobody will trust an oppressor. Like a polygamous home, the North does not understand us and we need to look for someone who understands us better. We are looking for others who see us as equal in Nigeria. If they do not trust us and the South that is up to them. We want people who will partner with us to develop Nigeria and free us from the shackles of indirect rule.
Indeed, the North and South seem to suspect themselves of trying to outplay or dominate each other, how can Nigeria overcome this suspicion and foster ethnic unity?
Restructure Nigeria and let every nationality be who they are. There will not be a situation of the North attempting to dominate the South or the South making efforts to dominate the North, and then we will have a Nigeria where everyone is important.
Insecurity has plagued some parts of the Middle Belt, like Benue, Plateau and Niger states, what do you think is the solution to the raging insecurity in the region?
Terrorists are terrorists. The moratorium that allows the Fulani from Mali, Burkina Faso and others to come and occupy our land should stop. Nigerians should address themselves as Nigerians before this influence that is brought upon us by politicians. If there were conflicts between a herder and a farmer, they had a way of resolving it and this can still be achieved. The ranching which we advocated because of development can be introduced to the system and it should be community-based. About 20 years ago, every community in Nigeria knew the Fulani in their neighbourhood, likewise any influx of new guys brought for political reasons should not be allowed. This insecurity will be resolved. These Boko Haram and terrorists’ locations are known. Let the government give a free hand to the military. This is what we can achieve if the government is determined.
What are your suggestions on solving the illiteracy, poverty and other problems in the region?
Nigeria should grow the economy, diversify and not continuously depend on oil. We have a lot of mineral resources. We should grow the economy, not the way it has retrogressed in recent years. Once the economy is diversified, poverty will be eradicated and all of us will be happy.
Some persons have even argued in the past that the North simply wants power but does not know what to do with it, given the low human capital development despite producing many past leaders and having higher number of states. What do you make of this notion?
Let us have the right type of leadership and leave sentiment out of it. Some people said Buhari is from the North and they were chanting ‘Sai Baba’ and we suffered for it. We should forget whether anybody comes from anywhere.
Does the Middle Belt Forum engage with governors from the region, and what have been the outcomes?
We do engage, appeal to them, advise them and offer wise counsel, which is all we can do. It is left to the governors to take them up. We are not a government; we are a socio-cultural group. But we go into the political arena when we see that things are going wrong, but we still remain a socio-cultural group. Our interest is that the lives of our people are being protected, their welfare is being taken care of and the zone is developed. We are at the centre and we are the glue that holds the North and South, so it is our duty to ensure that Nigeria reaches its full potential.
The regions have become silent on restructuring since Tinubu became President, is it that it’s no more an issue of concern or you want to give him time?
We have not relented and all of us believe restructuring is the way forward. It is people who want to dominate and subjugate who do not want restructuring. The common saying that without oil Nigeria is dead is what is holding back. Some people believe that if they do not dominate others, things will not move rightly for them. We are not leaving Tinubu alone, why we have not put pressure is because there are a lot of lawsuits out there. By the time the Supreme Court passes its judgment, whether we like it or not, we must accept and work with him. We want this country to move forward. We want a change of attitude from people who believe that without government they cannot survive, which is why they do everything to get power; we want this attitude to change. We want the private sector to be the driving force of our economic development, not the government. The government should create an enabling environment. Restructuring is the way forward and we are not quiet about it.
There are views that Nigeria should rather focus on national development rather than chasing restructuring on a state or regional basis, isn’t that also a valid argument?
Restructuring involves so many things. It is not just saying regional, state or whatsoever. The local governments are just appendages of the states and the state governments do whatever they feel like. Autonomy of the local government is necessary but do they even have to be under a state system? They should get their allocation directly. This is for equity. Our people in the North, because they do not have oil, based restructuring on resource control. People are lazy and they do not want or want us to move forward. If we forget about sentiment, all parts of the country will move forward and reach its full potential and invest in a collective approach towards developing our nation. We pray that this 63rd Independence will mark the beginning of a period where all of us are tired of quarrelling about resources or trying to manipulate one another because of resources and then unite to ensure that we develop our economy to a level that is commensurate with the period God has given us to move forward. Singapore and other countries that we started together have moved forward. We can also move forward if we forget about tribalism, religious sentiment and sectionalism. We should have Nigeria as a nation, not as a geographical expression holding together different nations that are pulling back one another.
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