When the former President Olusegun Obasanjo announced his service chiefs, with candidates from Southern Kaduna and Benue emerging, the former President was promptly accused of marginalizing the North. His political minders were, however, bewildered by that claim and when they pointed out that two of the service chiefs were from the North, another jolt crept in as the claim then changed to marginalization of the Core North. What this means is that the size of the Northern umbrella is getting smaller to cover the interests of the Middle-belt. Thus, the middle belt is finding its own footing. Efforts by the likes of Group Captain Dan Suleiman and Chief Solomon Lar appeared to have reignited the passion for Middle –belt identity at the beginning of the Fourth Republic, leading to the erection of signposts proclaiming the zone at its strategic boundaries
Posted on: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 21:26:39 +0000