Middle Belt Coalition Declares Restructuring A ‘National Necessity’

• Elects Prof Oloja As Interim National Chairman

IN A decisive emergency meeting held Saturday at the Masai Mara Resorts, Abuja, the Coalition of Indigenous Middle Belt Organisations (CIMBO), has declared that the restructuring of Nigeria is no longer a mere political slogan but an urgent national imperative.

The emergency meeting, which drew leaders from across the Middle Belt, also witnessed a unanimous leadership transition following the recent death of its National Chairman, Hon. Timothy B. Gandu.

In a communique signed by Prof. Emmanue Ejeikwu Oloja and Dr Billy Ishaya Laar, the organisation stated that after reviewing reports from the Interim Secretary General on engagements with the Middle Belt Elders Council, the Citizens for Restructured Nigeria (TRG), and the burial arrangements for the late leader, Hon. Gandu, CIMBO resolved to sharpen its focus on what it called the “structural challenges of the Nigerian federation.”

CIMBO, stressing its character as a non-governmental, non-sectarian, non-ethnic, non-religious, and non-political organisation, framed its push for restructuring as rooted in the pursuit of justice, equity, and sustainable peace.

CIMBO endorsed Citizens for Restructured Nigeria’s (TRG’s) proposed governance model, which rests on four pillars: autonomous regions, meritocracy, inclusivity, and a cooperative system.

Arguing that true restructuring goes beyond the devolution of power, the coalition argued: “It is about strengthening Nigeria through shared responsibility,” adding that each federated region should have the authority to create and administer its own states and local governments in a manner that reflects cooperative federalism and locally driven development.

Concerns over national security featured prominently with the group asserting that a restructured Nigeria is the only pathway to a balanced, historically-grounded, and structurally-sound security architecture.

To move this agenda forward, CIMBO called for an urgent technical policy roundtable involving traditional rulers and other key stakeholders to deliberate on restructuring and homeland security.

The coalition’s Research, Strategy and Mobilisation Committee has been charged with making this roundtable a reality as soon as possible.

On the economic front, members underscored the importance of developing regional economic blueprints, though no specific timelines or details were released.

The meeting also expressed deep appreciation to Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, for his “usual magnanimity, kindness and efforts to unite all socio-cultural organisations in the Middle Belt Region.”

In a series of operational resolutions, the coalition mandated a joint committee, comprising the Research, Strategy and Mobilisation arm and the legal team, to immediately begin work on the drafting of an acceptable constitution.

The most significant leadership shift came when Da Gyang Dudu Dalyop moved a motion to fill the vacancy left by Hon. Timothy B. Gandu’s passing.

Seconded by Professor Auta Kato Gwong, the motion led to the unanimous election of Professor Ejeikwu Emmanuel Oloja, previously Interim Secretary General, as the new Interim National Chairman.

In a parallel vote, Dr Billy Ishaya Laah was elected unopposed as Secretary while Barr. Pius Akubo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was elected as Head of the Legal Team.

All other interim officers were asked to retain their positions until the coalition’s constitution is finalised and formal elections conducted.

CIMBO promised to remain a vocal force in the national conversation on restructuring, with a clear, actionable roadmap toward what it called “a just, equitable and sustainable political and constitutional order.”

The emergency meeting, which drew leaders from across the Middle Belt, was attended by Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, represented by Hon Dan Kwada, the Special Adviser to Governor on Middle Belt Affairs, AVM Monday Riku Morgan (Rtd), National Leader of the Benue Rebirth Movement; Col. C. D. Waziri of Citizens for Restructured Nigeria (TRG); Dr Mike Omeri, former Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA) and current Senatorial Aspirant, Nasarawa South; Prof Yakubu Aboki Ochefu, Hon. Amb Jacob Ngbako, the representative of the President of PIDAN, among other VIPs of the Middle Belt Region.

Below is the full text of the communiqué:

COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE COALITION OF INDIGENOUS MIDDLE BELT ORGANISATIONS (CIMBO) HELD AT MASAI MARA RESORTS, GOD OF ELIJAH RD, JUKWOYI, KARU, FCT, ABUJA ON SATURDAY, 09/05/2026

Members of the Interim National Working Committee of CIMBO took reports from the Interim Secretary General, Prof Ejeikwu Emmanuel Oloja, on several engagements with the Middle Belt Elders Council, Citizens for Restructured Nigeria and the burial of the late leader, Hon Timothy B. Gandu, resolved to effect some adjustments in the Leadership of CIMBO, resolved and issued the following Communiqué:

1. That CIMBO is a non-governmental, non-sectarian and non-ethnic, non-religious organisation and non-political organisation.
2. To critically examine the structural challenges of the Nigerian federation.
3. To build consensus on the necessity of restructuring and developing a clear, actionable roadmap towards a just, equitable and sustainable political and constitutional order that guarantees peaceful coexistence, regional autonomy and inclusive national development.
4. To build consensus on TRG’s proposed model: Autonomous regions, Meritocracy, Inclusivity and Co-operative System.
5. That there is a need for consensus to restructure Nigeria – as the pathway to restoring a balanced, historically grounded, just and structurally sound security architecture.
6. That Restructuring as a Veritable Path, to the Nigeria of Our Dream, is not merely a political slogan but a national necessity, corroborating the current National debates that Restructuring goes beyond mere devolution of power. It’s about strengthening Nigeria through shared responsibility.
7. That each Federated Region shall create and administer its own states and local governments. This is to be done in a manner that Community governance will reflect cooperative federalism and locally driven development.
8. That there is an urgent need for a technical policy roundtable to engage traditional rulers and other stakeholders formally on issues of restructuring and homeland security as soon as possible. The Research, Strategy and Mobilization Committee was charged with duty to ensure that this is achieved as soon as possible.
9. Members in attendance underscored the importance of developing regional economic blueprints
10. Members expressed appreciation to HE, Barr Caleb MUTFWANG, the Executive Governor of Plateau State for his usual magnanimity, kindness and efforts to unite all socio-cultural organisations in the Middle Belt Region.
11. A joint Committee of CIMBO’s Research Strategy and Mobilization Committee with the Legal team of CIMBO is to immediately get to the work table to actualize S/No 8 above, and produce an acceptable CIMBO constitution within the next few weeks.
12. That more funding structures should be designed for CIMBO, and it was agreed that all sociocultural organisations under the umbrella of CIMBO should contribute certain amount of money, either quarterly, biannually or annually to fund the operations of CIMBO. The modalities is to be worked out by the Research, Strategy and Mobilization Committee. The Committee is to identify such sociocultural organisations State by State across the Middle Belt Nationalities.
13. Finally, Da Gyang Dudu Dalyop moved a motion that the vacuum created by the demise of Hon Timothy B. Gandu be filled immediately. The motion was seconded by Prof Auta Kato Gwong, and the Secretary General, Prof Ejeikwu Emmanuel Oloja, was unanimously voted unopposed as the Interim National Chairman of CIMBO. In a similar vein, Dr. Billy Ishaya Laah was voted unopposed as the Secretary. Barr Pius Akubo SAN was upgraded to the position of the Head of the Legal team of CIMBO. Every other Interim Officer in CIMBO is to retain his/her position in the interim pending when CIMBO’s constitution is ready and elections are conducted.

Prof Ejeikwu Emmanuel Oloja                                                     Dr. Billy Ishaya Laah
Chairman                                                                                             Secretary