2023: Idoma mounts pressure for governorship

The Idoma people of Benue State at the weekend trooped out to the streets of Makurdi in a solidarity rally requesting for the position of governorship in the 2023 general election. Idoma people, comprising of nine local government areas out of 23 in the state formed the Benue South senatorial district popularly known as Zone […]

The Idoma people of Benue State at the weekend trooped out to the streets of Makurdi in a solidarity rally requesting for the position of governorship in the 2023 general election.

Idoma people, comprising of nine local government areas out of 23 in the state formed the Benue South senatorial district popularly known as Zone ‘C’, have never had a shot at the governorship in the 46-year-old ‘food basket’ state.

Our correspondent reports that the foremost seat of the state had over the years rotated between the Tiv speaking people of the Zones ‘A’ and ‘B’ (Benue North-East and North-West senatorial districts respectively) owing to their numerical strength.

Leader of the rally under the Benue Rebirth Movement (BRM), Air Vice Marshal Monday Morgan (retd), told Governor Samuel Ortom when they matched to Government House in Makurdi, that the time has come for someone from Zone ‘C’ to mount the seat of power in Benue State.

“Nasarawa State rotates its governorship among the three senatorial zones; Plateau, Kogi and Taraba states do the same; all the adjoining North-Central states do the same. Why is it that Benue State refused to co-tow to normal democratic norms?” He asked.

Responding, Governor Samuel Ortom, who was represented by his deputy, Engineer Benson Abounu, expressed gratitude that they came collectively to the Government House to express the aspirations and wishes of the people of Zone ‘C’.

“He (governor) said I should tell you that your wishes and aspirations are just, they are right and proper,” he said.