The African Sociocultural Harmony and Enlightenment (ASHE) Foundation has strongly condemned the continued classification of the Middlebelt region within the Arewa geopolitical framework, describing it as an endorsement of police actions and genocide against indigenous communities.
Historical Context and Political Alliances
In a press statement marking Arewa's 25th anniversary, ASHE President Prince Justice Faloye highlighted that Arewa represents the successor to the Sokoto and Bornu Islamic empires, which historically aimed to subjugate and culturally eliminate Southern and Middlebelt regions politically.
Chief Awolowo consistently demonstrated preference for political cooperation with Southern and Middlebelt regions, explicitly stating that any alliance with the North would inevitably create a master-servant relationship favoring Northern interests. Despite disagreements with Nnamdi Azikwe, Awolowo maintained his preference for political collaboration with Igbos, and in 1958, entered into an alliance with the United Middlebelt Peoples Congress.
The statement emphasized that despite clear regional connections, it required until the 2014 National Conference to formally establish the South and Middlebelt civilizational political relationship through the South and Middlebelt Leadership Forum (SMBLF).
Colonial Boundaries and Contemporary Consequences
The existence of SMBLF directly challenges the current North-South boundary that falls below the River Niger. According to Faloye, the colonial demarcation fails to reflect either geographic equidistance represented by Abuja or the civilizational division between indigenous Africans and Afro-Arabians between Zaria and Kaduna.
Arewa exploits this unjust colonial misappropriation to promote political exclusion while tacitly supporting ethnic cleansing of indigenous African groups by herdsmen and jihadists. This situation has now attracted international condemnation and threats of foreign intervention to stop alleged Christian Genocide in the Middlebelt.
2014 Confab and Restructuring Advocacy
During the 2014 Sovereign National Conference, indigenous African peoples seeking equitable federation reached consensual agreement on hundreds of resolutions. These included establishing state police, devolving power to states, and granting ethnic minorities the right to use referendums to join adjoining states.
Implementation of these resolutions would have significantly reduced insecurity and insurgency, according to the Foundation's statement. Faloye expressed that it would be hypocritical for Middlebelt partners in SMBLF to participate in Arewa anniversary celebrations with those who have obstructed restructuring implementation for over a decade.
The statement noted the conspicuous absence of the South and Middlebelt Leadership Forum, chaired by Afenifere Leader HRH Oba Oladipo Olaitan, from the anniversary events in Kaduna.
Call to Action and Future Directions
Faloye criticized the colonial misclassification of Middlebelt's Indigenous people as part of the Arewa Northern Protectorate, which he said directly led to their political marginalization and ethnic cleansing. He expressed disappointment that a group claiming to represent Afenifere attended the anniversary, asserting they didn't represent the authentic Afenifere established by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
The current alliance primarily focuses on ethnic exclusion and economic exploitation, supporting political victimization of Igbo people in Lagos, according to the Foundation's assessment.
Faloye concluded that those genuinely committed to ending Middlebelt genocide must reject Arewa, which facilitates cultural annihilation, and instead advocate for comprehensive restructuring and state police implementation. This would empower Indigenous peoples with self-protection capabilities and representative governance structures essential for their survival and development.
