“The Visit Is Divisive” — JIBWIS Condemns Middle Belt Leaders’ Visit To Tinubu Without Muslims
Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) has described the visit by some leaders of the Self-aclaimed Middle Belt to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as divisive and as having the tendency to divide the region along ethnoreligious lines.
Sheik Ahmad Ashir, National Publicity Secretary of the group, said this while reacting to the recent visit by the leaders led by General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma to Abuja on Friday.
According to the group, “Nigeria and the North Central in particular is composed of both Muslims and Christians. So, it was surprising to hear or see some leaders from the North Central who would visit the president as leaders from the North Central without Muslims from the region. Just we have Christians in the region, we equally have Muslims. We condemn the actions.”
“The region belongs to all irrespective of ethnoreligious affiliation. If it is a visit for Christian leaders, that is understood but for them to mention that they are from the North Central, they are not just to us as Muslims. We call on all people from the region to speak with one voice to achieve sustainable development,” he added.
The delegation, which met Tinubu to discuss the region’s political alliance ahead of 2027 and present a charter of demands on security, cost of living and agriculture, comprised only Christians, including Governors Caleb Mutfwang and Agbu Kefas, Yakubu Dogara, Ishaya Bamaiyi, Christopher Musa and others, and has openly backed Tinubu’s re-election.
The Arewa Consultative Forum also warned the composition leans towards a Christian persuasion, while a BUK analyst, Dr Sa’idu Ahmad Dukawa, cautioned it could deepen religious divisions if it claimed to represent the entire Middle Belt.
