Makurdi, the Benue State capital will literarily come to a halt on Friday as Idoma ethnic group plans to stage a 10,000 man match against the refusal of the Tiv to allow them govern the state after 38 years.
The protest which is being facilitated by the Idoma Governors Support Group, IGSG, and Idoma People of Nigeria, IPN, would take place at the popular Wurukum round about in the heart of the capital city.
Coordinator of IGSG, Peterhot Apeh explained why the Idoma territory should produce the next governor of the state come 2015.
He also spoke on other germane issues bothering on the state and beyond.
Tell us about the 10,000 man match?
The 10,000 man match is meant to press home our demand and the world know that somewhere in the middle of Nigeria, such an injustice is ongoing.
We decided to come face to face and be raw with the truth. This unparalleled political hegemony is only sin obstructing development in the State and that’s why we are gathering to find a way out.
How prepared are the Idomas for the task ahead?
We are very-very prepared. We are ready to lead the State meaningfully. You know one of the challenges that brought about our quest for the governorship slot is the resultant effect of Akume and Suswam’s failure to liberate the Benue we call our own.
Could you believe that the 16 years of Akume and Suswam haven’t done what Aper Aku did in four years in Benue? The Idomas are ready to liberate the State and it’s clearly shown in the way our comrade is offering Benue people jobs at the slightest opportunity. There’s this insinuation that we are not ready, but I can tell you its a political language meant to spoil our glorious outing in the elections. Please permit me to call it arrant nonsense.
What was your people’s reaction when you informed them of the protest?
I can tell you authoritatively that over 99% of our people nodded yes to the proposal and it has since gained such publicity. Some are even of the opinion that we stage this rally weekly as a way of influencing the last minute abrasions synonymous with a typical Nigerian politics.
They believe our coming together is the beginning of getting out of this political mesmerism honed on us by some selfish people. Even in the bible, king Pharaoh kept the Isrealites afar because each time they came together, a strong wind of emancipation smear round Egypt and when Moses finally came, he worked on bringing them together because coming together means self determination to getting out of any form of slavery.
Do you think Idoma can rule Benue state?
Sure, we can and we will. Go out there and make inquiries and you will understand that we’ve never disappointed our employers before. You know we parade huge professionals in Idoma land, from technocrats to military to religion to sea and what have you. Ameh, we are more than capable to rule and reborn our dear Benue.
Idoma have five aspirants, any plan to produce one as consensus candidate?
I wouldn’t say much on that, but I can assure you that we have such plan and its process is ongoing. We’ve had some experiences from 2007 and 2011 elections, so we are working out tactics for the eleventh hour.
After almost 40 years, do you think the Idomas are being treated like real citizens of Benue State?
No. Not at all. We’ve never being treated like original citizen in our State. As the second largest ethnic group in the State, we are supposed to hold sway in our socio-economic and political affairs too.Do you believe that upon our expertise, we’ve never been Speaker of the State Assembly, never been Chief Judge of the state and a lot of it.
State projects are directed to their constituents only and where one is attracted to the Idoma axis, believe me, it would only exist on pages of national dailies. The Idomas are highly marginalized and that’s why the youths are out to quill this lingering imbroglio militating against our cooperate existence.
Some persons are of the opinion that Idoma does not have qualified candidates, how true?
This is the kind of question I would wave off by throwing my hands in the air. Anyone who knows Idoma knows the stuff we are made of. In all ramifications, we are bourgeois and I can tell you infinitesimally that in the middle belt region of this country, no tribe can compete with our czar intellectualism. From medical to military, to academic to politics and other fields, our prowess is known and you can testify to that fact.
Among all the contestants in now Benue, no one among them can beat anyone of our aspirants’ record. The likes of Lawani, Oyigeya, Ode, Harris and Ada are people that have made history in their respective fields of work. Little enquiry into this corduroy will leave you with no doubt that Idoma will deliver Benue from the clutches of looters and sycophants in our government.
The Tivs are also complaining that they are being marginalised at the federal level, what would you say about that?
Anyone who says that is not a good student of our socio-political and economic history. If you care for this filthy lucre, please count the number of former federal ministers in the State. The likes of Joseph Takar, Saro, Yorchiayu, Gemade, Ortom just to mention but few, held sway from the 60s and they are glaringly still relevant in our polity. Is it because of Abba Moro or Ochepe or prof. Idoko? What are they talking about? After the 2011 elections, it was two Tiv and two Idoma, isn’t that a subtle equal sublime?
Who among the five Idoma aspirants do you think can wear the crown if the slot is given to Idoma?
That will be difficult to point at. A lot of factors would be considered because all the five candidates are qualified excellently in this race and their popularity is well known. Their antecedents count for them and you saw how some of our aspirants led with wide margin in some of the online polls conducted so far. Idoma is great and they produce great resources including human resources.
Do you think this struggle for a Benue governor of Idoma extraction will see the light of day?
Sure, in 2015 you will see the difference. The good news here is that some of the Tivs are actually ready to kill in support of Idoma governor because it has been established spiritually and otherwise that only Idoma governor can baptize the state to get into the kingdom of Nigerian states.
Some of them now align with this spiritual fact and you will see things work for us in the elections. God and the gods are on our side in this struggle and I will invite you to attend the inauguration of Idoma man as governor of our very Benue State.
What if the major parties in your state fail to give Idoma the flag at the next week primaries, what would your reaction be?
That’s a very nice question my dear. We have our plan-B and nothing can stop us in 2015. I won’t tell you everything here for security reasons, but we Idomas are there already. Just watch out when events begins to properly unfold.(Daily Post)
