A Look into the “Middle-belt — North” Identity Crisis and Other Related Matters:

In Nigeria:

The creation of states from Lt.Col. Yakubu Gowon — Gen. Abdusallami Abubakar regimes may have been, ostensibly, in the spirit of true federalism or for political sabotages/interests (like the creation of Mid-Western region and Rivers state, amongst. others). But one thing certainly emerged as a result of the creation/proliferation of states and realignment of internal borders: people(s) lost and gained new identities — one people became two/three peoples; literally, a people slept one night, woke and found themselves in a new political entity/administration. This, and a number of contemporary events has driven me to research about the true identity of Middle-belters.

It is impossible for this relatively concise work to do justice to the above stated ‘controversial’ issue but the aim of this work is to offer the required knowledge to arouse the needed curiosity in interested readers to engage in ample research and be knowledgeable about the subject-matter. And to provide solutions where/if necessary.

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Where/what is middle-belt?

Who are the middle-belters?

Is the term ‘middle-belt’ one and the same with North-Central (states)?

To appreciate the foregoing questions, the comprehensive understanding of the terms ‘human geography’ and ‘Physical geography’ are pertinent.

While Physical geography focuses on spatial and environmental processes/phenomena that shoes the natural world; Human geography focuses on people — interrelationship between people, place and environment and how these vary spatially and temporally across locations.

From tabulated and web sources, locations/regions which have been categorized as constituting middle belt include: the entirety of the conventional North Central states, i.e; 1. Kwara, 2. Kogi, 3. Plateau, 4. Niger, 5. Benue, 6. Nasarawa states and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. In addition to a number of particular Christain-dominated regions in some North Eastern and Western states such as: 7. Southern parts of Kaduna state, 8. Taraba State, 9. Kebbi State(Zuru), 10. Adamawa State(Numan), 11. Gombe State, 12. Bauchi state, 13. Yobe State; and 14. Bornu State.

Thus, contrary to popularly held notion and flowing from the above knowledge, the ‘middle-belt’ is indeterminate in that it lacks designated “borders” (as in Physical geography) and is characterized by a heterogeneity and diversity of peoples (ethnicity, religion and culture).

What the middle belt, however, have in common is the “minority” factor (tribes/religion). And this is unaltered regardless of the significant presence of other majority tribes/religion within these regions such as the Kanuri or Hausa/Fulani and Islam.

This is, indubitably, strange!

While the term ‘Middle-belt’ has been in existence and use since ‘1950’s’ pre-independence Nigeria(Remember the defunct United Middle Belt Congress ‘UMBC’ headed by Joseph Tarka?), the term ‘North Central’ (states) as a region came into existence in the 1990’s, under the late Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime.

Hence, you begin to wonder: why wasn’t the region accurately named ‘Middle-belt’ region when the six geopolitical zones were created? Was it omitted to actualize a “One big Northern” agenda? Notwithstanding that a typical middle-belter (from the North central states) has nothing in common with a typical man from North East/West.

Contemporary, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) operates as a successor to the UMBC and in many occasions has refused to identify as ‘Northerners’.

Historically (and till date), the middle-belt regions have been political stooges for the political class of the majority Hausa/Fulani Muslim-North. They’ve been under economic, political and religious siege from the seeds of Usman Dan Fodio. Maybe this is a result of their bigoted quest of “deeping the Quran into the Atlantic Ocean.”

Nonetheless, this same people have marginalized and subjected (or have allowed) these middle-belters to be raped and murdered at their homes and farms. And have kidnapped their under-age daughters, forcibly converted them to Islam and married them off. All with little or no recourse.

Without doubt, these constituted part of the major reasons why Gideon Orkar (and other officers from minority tribes, especially middle-belters) executed the bloody coup of April 1990 against the notorious dictator: Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; and one of his very first act was to declare the excision of 5 core Northern states (Sokoto, Borno, Katsina, Kano and Bauchi states) from the union of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, until certain conditions were met.

To a typical Hausa/Fulani Muslim-Northerner, the concept of ‘ONE NORTH’ holds sway. The term ‘middle belt’ upsets their cynical political interests.

The Arewa Consultative Forum have been on a quest to incorporate core middle belt states in the North Central region in membership of the forum. States like Plateau has continuously resisted this.

To conclude, middle-belt in the context of human geography include the regions/peoples not limited to the North Central states but also particular regions in North Western and North Eastern state as mentioned above. Accordingly, we may have a man in Kaduna or Taraba who identifies as a Middle-belter; so also a Yoruba man from Kwara or Kogi.

Opinions and Recommendations:

1. The core North Central states should be renamed the “Middle-belt” region, primarily. This will, among other things, significantly extenuate or eradicate the regressive mentality of “One big powerful intimidating North”; and is a crucial step towards their emancipation from the shackles of the majority Hausa/Fulani Muslim-North.
2. 2. The Middle Belt Forum should be fortified and made more efficient to better represent and advocate for the interests of the Middle-belters.
3. 3. Lastly, while the legality of this may be controverted, the preservation of self takes precedence over any other matter. Hence, If the arbitrary killings in core Middle belt states continue, plans should be made to create and arm a well-regulated militia; the MBF can have their militia wing just like the OPC in West or APC in the North. Since the government(s) is not doing enough to stop the bloodbath.