"Comrade Ameh: Idoma will never rule Benue? Chief David Mark, I disagree with you

Honestly, I didn’t pen this down to disrespect President of the Senate and the Okpokpowulu of Idomaland, Chief David Aleichenu Bonaventure Mark.

I will remain unapologetic if this write-up hits this retired army boss and his loyalists hard.

It has become obvious that because we venerate our leaders to a level that we now worship them like Deputy Jesus, we should also be ready to take their lash anytime they approach us with their ‘koboko.’

No wonder, our elders say, “a child that toys with the devil-beans should be ready to dance to the rhythm of the gods.

I was moved to tears when I read online recently that David Mark had outrightly informed his people (Idoma) to bury the hope of ruling Benue State in the nearest future.

It was reported that the elder statesman had told them not be deceived by the thinking that an Idoma man would take over the mantle of leadership from the incumbent Governor, Gabriel Suswam in 2015. He said that they could only be the Governor if the much-awaited Apa State is created.

Sad, pity, SMH!

At first, I was reluctant to believe the story, I waited for three days; hoping that Mark would issue a communiqué to debunk the statement attributed to him; but all to no avail, an indication that our hope has been dashed to the wind.

I’m not afraid to say this, because it is blatant that the Idoma nation has lost her dignity as true owners of the land and as partners in leadership and governance.

It is clear that we have failed to realize that government is a legal contract between the servant (the led) and the head (leader) and have given up our God’s given and constitutional rights.

We have time-honoured the concept of modern slavery in leadership, and can take anything from our insensitive and self-centered leaders who have never thought about our welfares in a single second of their lives.

It makes me wonder with one hand akimbo and head bow on why would a respected personality like Chief Mark utter such unguarded statement.

The question is: What hope is he leaving for those of us coming up? What message is he leaving behind for our unborn children? Does that mean that the Idoma nation cannot boast of a man that meets the criteria to govern the Food Basket State? Is the Government House too hot for an Idoma man to occupy? Too many questions begging for answers!

For the past 14 years, Idoma people have been waiting for Apa State and it has never come.

Tired of the endless promises, many had since retired to fate.

Some call the promise of state creation as a political gimmick. Others see it as a trick to win more followership, but whatever the case, maybe, the Idoma are too intelligent to be fooled.

The history of the struggle for the creation of Apa State could be dated back to1996, when Mbanefo’s panel was set up.

The panel went round the whole country and recommended 12 states, two per zone. In the north central, they recommended Nassarawa and Apa States.

History has it that Apa State was even number seven on the list. But when it came to the actual creation exercise, the then Head of State, General Abacha denied the Idoma nation. One of the criteria for creating a state was that the area must not be less than 1.3 million, the Idoma area was 734,000 as at that time. That was how the dream was killed.

During my recent trip to South America, I had a hearty chat with a co-passenger on board who informed me that the process of state creation takes not less than five years to complete right from referendum signed and of course you must determine the organ that will even conduct the referendum.

But as at today, the constitution doesn’t specify who should conduct the referendum.

I was made to understand that from the referendum stage to the state House of assembly where it would be debated upon and passed, before it is sent to 2/3 of the states in the country, 24 must approve that the state is created.

Then, it comes to the National Assembly, each of the Houses will pass it. Then a joint committee would be set up to look at it, to recommend, then they vote on it. It takes about four to five years to complete.

If it is true, it should have come 12 years ago, yet Apa is yet to see the light of day.

There is no gainsaying the fact that Mark boosts many legacies in all the sectors of the economy with ‘marked’ transparency and accountability in the management of resource.

With a warrior like Mark ahead of us, we can conquer this Jericho. Yes, we can!

It is so sad that our sons and daughters cannot occupy the seat of Governor of Benue State no matter how well qualified and experienced they are for the job! Neither can we produce the Speaker of the House of Assembly, nor the Chief Judge of the State that is normally attained by seniority. When it was the turn of an Idoma to ascend the seat of Chief Judge, they were denied and the next person in rank (a Tiv), was appointed. It is the same with Majority Leader in the House of Assembly, Chairman, State Council of Chiefs, Chairman, State Judicial Service Commission and several other categorized Statutory Boards and Commissions. This discrimination and deprivation manifest even in academics. We have been designated to play second fiddle as second-class citizens in a State we are supposed to belong in as equal partners with others. Ali Adoyi, the best graduating student in the Faculty of Arts, Benue state University in the 2007/2008 academic session was not only denied a First Class for not being a TV man, but was also denied being retained as a lecturer, just in variance with the specification of the university. Too bad.

The Idoma nation is now like the man in Jerad Angira’s No Coffin, No Grave. We cant rule Benue, yet Apa is nowhere at sight. What is Mark saying. What other time does he have to do this? What other position does he need to achieve this? Too bad!

I stand here with due respect to disagree with His Excellency, David Mark on his stance that Idoma cannot rule Benue.

I have never been against a Tiv governor but what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander.

If him (Mark) can go as far as becoming a Senate President (number three in the nation) then, I can beat my chest that an Idoma man is even more qualified to govern Benue, we can break the jinx.

In fact, the governorship seat na moimoi joor!
Okpokpowulu got it wrong. I guess he only calculated based on his personal relationship with governor Suswam. Who says things will never change?

Ameh Comrade Godwin writes from Lagos.

This is hard saying but it is the truth the fact remains until there is a constitutional provision for proper recognition of minorities in this country it will be very difficult for them to rule...i know it hard to believe and accept but only then can we see the change we so desire.

modrator please fronte page

They will never rule as long as the country remains tribal.With tribes men like him ruling the roost in the name of "thiefocracy" and "democrazy".

Tribes men and women in 21st century politics.

Did anybody ever think a shy Ijaw man would ever be president of Nigeria .. No no no .. When the time come the Idoma Governor will rise and take his place

History has not taught us anything. Men are not God. It is just the same way many people believe an Igbo man will never rule Nigeria.

It would be be difficult for a Yoruba to rule Kogi because of the Igala majority.

It would be difficult for a Idoma man to rule Benue because of the Tiv majority.

It would be difficult for a southern Kaduna to rule Kaduna State because of the Hausa / Fulani of the central & Northern Kaduna.

It would be difficult for the Egun of Lagos State to rule Lagos state because of the Yoruba majority.

It would be difficult for Ijos to rule Ondo State because of the Yoruba majority.

It would be difficult for aworis to rule ogun state because of the majority ijebus & egbas

It would be difficult for the Eggons of nassarawa state to rule that state because they have been maginalised by the Hausa / Fulanis.

It would be difficult for Hausa / Fulanis to rule Plateu state because of the majority Christian Beroms.

It would be difficult for Ijos to rule rivers state because of the majority Ikweres

It would be difficult for annangs to rule akwa ibom state because of the majority ibibios

It would be difficult for delta State igbos to rule delta state because of the majority urobos & itshekIris.

It would be difficult for the nupes To rule kwara state because of the majority Yorubas.

@ihimami

It would be difficult does not mean it cannot happen. !!!

Yes Ɣ☺u r right about the majority.But Akpabio is not ibibio.
Governor Akpabio is annang.Go and ask an Akwa ibom indigine.

^^^^^^^^^^^

Is Akpabio from Oron, Oron is the main abode of the annangs.

My mistake

I mean to say it will be difficult for the Orons to be Governor of Akwa Ibom State not the Annangs. The Oron language is incomprensible to others. Yes Akpabio is Annang they and ibibios are the majority.

@post... I have asked this several times and understood that because of the overwhelming population advantage of the Tivs, it would be difficult for the Idomas... I guess Mark was just been politically realistic (naija context). Instead of uniting, you are busy crying for Apa state. Where will the Igedes go? To be added with you?
All those crying for state creation should be given the option of staying on their resources for 5 yrs. No contribution from FG in money terms.
Does it matter whose tribe is on the sit? Good governance, not tribal politics is what we should advocating for. How many local govt areas consists of the Idomas? What are your inputs to state and national growth n development? If u are given Apa today, will you people allow the Igedes rule? Can you even survive the status of a state?

KnowAll: It would be difficult for delta State igbos to rule delta state because of the majority urobos & itshekIris.

Uduaghan is Itsekiri... A minority tribe in Delta. Far smaller than the "Delta-Igbo".....

It really isn't about size.

If you want a position, you strategize on how to get it. Crying on the pages of newspapers is a senseless approach.

Garri the 1st:

Uduaghan is Itsekiri... A minority tribe in Delta. Far smaller than the "Delta-Igbo".....

It really isn't about size.

If you want a position, you strategize on how to get it. Crying on the pages of newspapers is a senseless approach.

Thank you. In the case of Benue, Tivs are one of the cheapest groups to manipulate if one actually does his/her homework well. However, most Idoma leaders, prominent among them David Mark, have never hidden their dislike for the Tivs and have worked assiduously to undermine the Tivs' interest, mostly at federal level where Hausa/fulanis-Tivs' perpetual albatross-hold sway. Check lists of Benue's quota for recruitment exercises into federal establishments over the years and you would wonder why such lopsidedness against Tivs remains unchanged for such a long time. Idomas take 90 percent of all federal jobs allocated to the state all the times. They know the secret of cornering such "slots" but are not ready to share it with the Tivs, so the Tivs population naturally becomes their one "secret" for holding unto the only thing that would ensure they don't lose everything.