The Middle Belt Youth Council has said that the core interest of the North has always been to dominate the region and the South politically.

Speaking through its President, Emma Zopmal, the group told Punch that the northern elders had the right to aspire for an alliance with the South, adding that the Middle Belt can negotiate its own future.

He said, “The core interest of the North has always been to dominate the Middle Belt and the South politically and in other aspects of national life. The North has ridden on the back of the Middle Belt to outplay the South in politics, but this trend will not continue for life.

“Middle Belt has come of age to bargain its share of the national responsibility independently

“No doubt, the meeting was attended by some people from the Middle Belt, but taking a close look at their political clouts in their respective constituencies, one will discover that they lack the capacity to drive home the Northern agenda in the areas they claim .”

He described the outcome of the meeting as an effort in futility, saying , “Middle Belt has gone far ahead of them (northern elders) in solidarity with the South. The friendship between Middle Belt and South is unquantifiable.”

According to him, politics of 2019 was about core value and interest that will unite Nigeria and give equal opportunity to all.

He stated that, “If the North, under President Buhari, demonstrates an open injustice against Nigerians in the Middle Belt and the South, how then can they take the message of alliance to the South?

“Middle Belt is ready for the game. We work in the interest of the people, not selected individuals. Middle Belt and South pursue national interest not bias regional interest like that of Northern elite called Northern elders

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2019: North can’t negotiate for us, we’re ready for the game – Middle Belt youths