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Southern stakeholders reject Arewa’s inclusion of Middle Belt in North geopolitical zone
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Southern and Middle Belt leaders have rejected the proposal by Arewa leaders to include the Middle Belt in the geopolitical configuration of the North.
The African Sociocultural Harmony and Enlightenment (ASHE) Foundation, which made this known in a statement, said that the continued classification of the Middle Belt as part of Arewa amounts to an endorsement of undue politics.
In the statement signed on behalf of the southern leaders by the Foundation’s President, Prince Justice Faloye, the group stated that lumping the Middle Belt as part of the North amounts to continuous marginalization of the region.
Reacting to the recent 25th anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ASHE Foundation said the body’s identity represents the historical continuation of the Sokoto and Bornu empires, whose “Afro-Arabian imperialistic agenda” sought the political domination and cultural erasure of both the South and Middle Belt.
The group noted that this legacy explains why the South and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), chaired by Afenifere leader, HRH Oba Oladipo Olaitan, was absent from the event in Kaduna.
Faloye said the colonial decision to group Middle Belt ethnic nationalities under the Northern Protectorate—despite their cultural and civilisational affinity with the South—resulted in decades of political marginalisation and “genocidal ethnic cleansing” across the region.
He referenced the political outlook of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who consistently preferred alliances with the South and Middle Belt, including the 1958 partnership with the United Middle Belt Peoples Congress.
According to the statement, the creation of SMBLF in 2014 reaffirmed the South–Middle Belt civilizational partnership and exposed what it described as the flaw in Nigeria’s current North–South boundaries, which ASHE argues do not reflect geography or cultural realities. The group accused Arewa of profiting from colonial distortions to promote political exclusion and turning a blind eye to attacks by “herdsmen and jihadists,” which have attracted global condemnation.
Faloye said the decision of some Middle Belt groups to attend the Arewa anniversary contradicted the spirit of the 2014 National Confab, which agreed on far-reaching reforms such as state policing, power devolution, and referendum rights for minorities.
“It would be hypocritical for Middle Belt partners in SMBLF to acknowledge those who have spent a decade sabotaging restructuring,” he said.
He also dismissed the participation of a faction claiming to represent Afenifere at the Kaduna event, describing them as “renegades” reminiscent of the NNDP era and accused them of supporting policies that undermine the poor and promote ethnic exclusion.
Faloye insisted that anyone committed to ending the killings in the Middle Belt must oppose the Arewa framework, which he called “a vehicle for Afro-Arabian imperialism.”
He urged both domestic actors and the international community to intensify advocacy for restructuring and state police to ensure that indigenous communities “protect themselves and enjoy representative governance in their chosen regions.”
The OK Movement has celebrated with the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on his 65th birthday anniversary.
In a post on its verified X handle on Sunday, the movement described Obi as a rock that refuses to bow.
It also described the 65th birthday anniversary of the former Anambra State governor as not merely by age but courage and principle.
“At 65, the Rock stands taller. Not merely by age, but by courage. Not by power, but by principle.
“Okwute is not just a name, it is a symbol. A rock that refuses to bow, a rock strong enough to pull down the structures of criminality, corruption, and hopelessness.
“While others bend with the winds of convenience, the Rock remains unmoved, reminding a nation that integrity still has a face.
“Happy 65th Birthday, His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi. May the Rock continue to inspire hope until Nigeria stands on a firmer foundation. Happy Birthday, Okwute for Nigeria. Nigeria will be OK,” the movement wrote.
OK Movement comprises supporters of Obi and his running mate for the forthcoming 2027 general elections, Rabi’u Kwankwaso.
Daily Post
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC, Peter Obi, on Sunday visited St. Raphael Hospital in Umueri, Anambra State, where he donated ₦10 million to support medical services as part of activities marking his birthday.
Obi’s visit to the hospital was captured in a video on X where he was accompanied by priests as he interacted with hospital staff and members of the community.
The former Anambra State governor also participated in group photographs and presentations during the visit, which was warmly received by hospital officials and residents of the area.
The donation is the latest in Obi’s series of philanthropic interventions in the healthcare sector. He has in recent months made financial contributions to medical facilities in Enugu and other parts of the country, aimed at improving access to quality healthcare services.
Obi has consistently emphasised the importance of investing in healthcare, education, and other critical sectors as part of his broader commitment to national development.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has emerged as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), becoming the second woman to lead the legal body in its over six-decade history.Executive Branch .
Badejo-Okusanya emergence marks a major milestone for the association, as she is the first woman to be elected NBA president since Mrs. Priscilla Kuye served from 1991 to 1992.
Badejo-Okusanya emerged victorious in the NBA’s 2026 national officers’ election after defeating two other Senior Advocates of Nigeria in a closely contested poll.
The Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Aham Ejelam, SAN, announced the results at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja on Sunday after the election, which experienced delays caused by technical difficulties and a cyberattack.
According to the results, Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast, defeating her closest rival, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who polled 7,934 votes (30.39 per cent).
The third candidate, Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, received 5,855 votes, representing 22.43 per cent. Ejelam disclosed that a total of 26,106 votes were recorded during the election.
With her victory, Badejo-Okusanya will lead the NBA for a two-year term from 2026 to 2028. Other officials elected during the exercise include Oghenero Okoro as First Vice-President with 11,024 votes, Afam Okeke as General Secretary with 8,478 votes, Aghogho Gladys as Assistant General Secretary with 14,312 votes, and Chinelo Audrey Ofoegbunam as Welfare Secretary with 14,911 votes.
The president-elect was absent when the results were announced. Explaining her absence, a member of her campaign team, Aminu Gadanya, SAN, said she was delayed by flight issues but remained committed to uniting the association.
He said Badejo-Okusanya was prepared to extend a “handshake of friendship” to all aggrieved candidates in the interest of strengthening the unity of the Nigerian Bar Association.
Speaking after the announcement, the outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, revealed that the election overcame attempts to disrupt the process, including a cyberattack that forced the electoral committee to migrate its ICT infrastructure to a more secure server.Executive Branch “Our colleagues planned to truncate the election, but we stood firm. Every effort to derail this process failed.
This is a trying time for the Bar. In the build-up to this election, many went to great lengths to rubbish the association,” Osigwe said.
He urged the newly elected officers to be gracious in victory while encouraging unsuccessful candidates to rally behind the new leadership.
“To those who won, be magnanimous in victory; for those who lost, there is always another day. The cyberattack shows that we must do more in data protection. Let us collectively do things in an acceptable manner,” he added.
‘Peter the Rock who refuses to bow’ – OK Movement hails Obi at 65
Just in : Obi Marks 65th Birthday With ₦10M Donation To Anambra Health -Care Facility
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