Middle Belt, Delta leaders form alliance

Leaders from the Middle Belt states and the Niger Delta formed a alliance at the weekend to support the interests of minority groups, a Lagos daily newspaper, ‘The Guardian’ reported. The 12 leaders who met in the Delta city of Port Harcourt, in Rivers State, called on the government to tell the seven northern states to revoke the Islamic laws they introduced this year, so as to avoid a counter-reaction. Sharia law has always existed in northern Nigeria but only where it covers social and family-related issues. However, it is the aspect of criminal Sharia law, introduced by the northern states this year, that has now galvanised the opposition of Christians who, citing Nigeria’s constitution, insist that the federal government uphold its secular nature. The meeting also called for a national identity card for the country as this would “enhance greatly” Nigeria’s ability to provide an accurate, credible and acceptable census, a feat, they say, it had never achieved. In addition, the leaders are calling for a national conference, an idea the 15-month-old government of Olusegun Obasanjo has so far refused to entertain. In addition, the new alliance is aimed at refocusing energies, creating an economic haven and a zone where human rights would be held sacred. The leaders hope they will be able to influence a federal structure of government in which power, resources and opportunities would be more equitably distributed.