Middle Belt Leaders calls for the immediate implementation of 2014 Nat. Conf.

Leaders of the Middle Belt and other Northern minorities, on Thursday urged the Federal Government, to immediately begin the implementation of the 2014 National Conference report.

The leaders of the region debated that the implementation will address the agitations for the restructuring of the country.

The meeting, which was convened under the aegis of Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum, was attended by other leaders from Adamawa, Taraba, Southern Kaduna and the six states in the North Central zone.

The meeting was presided over by former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana.

Also in attendance were former Deputy Senate Leader and Jonathan Zwingina from Adamawa; Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd).

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, Ahmadu Ali from Kogi state and former Senate President, Iyiorchia Ayu, from Benue state, were not left out.

One of the resolutions reached in line with the recommendations of the 2014 confab, was that a structure of 12 regions as federating units with 54 states, would be better for the country.

A statement issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the Secretary of the Middle Belt Forum, John Dara, reads: “In a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious country like Nigeria, the federal system makes enormous sense, because it allows the federating units to fully look after their local affairs and to develop at their own pace. Therefore, we hereby renew our loyalty, love and strong support for a united Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We appeal to all separatist agitators to allow the restructuring initiative to run its full course. We need to stay and work together to ensure that new leadership that can make Nigeria great emerges in the next elections.

“We condemn the murderous activities of Fulani herdsmen in the Middle Belt and other parts of Nigeria. We call on the Federal Government to step up security measures to curb this menace.

“Similarly, we call on the Federal Government and Borno State government to bring back our Chibok girls and resettle our people of Southern Borno and other internally displaced people in their ancestral lands and homes.