Okpokwu Ogenyi, a former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, in Benue State, has explained why the party chairmanship seat should remain in Benue South Senatorial District.
Okpokwu, a renowned activist believes that will be a plus for the Idoma/Igede nation to hold glue to the state chairmen of all political parties in Benue, especially the major political parties, if the need to achieve the dream of Benue State Governor of the Idoma/Igede extraction in the nearest future.
He was reacting to the decision of some APC members who kicked against the micro-zoning of APC chairmanship seat to Ogbadibo, which produced Austin Agada as consensus candidate.
In a statement personally signed on Friday, Okpokwu said is also a public knowledge that the zoning of the state chairmanship position to zone C was widely celebrated and endorsed by 99% of Benue South APC Stakeholders like, Chief Steven Lawani, Gen. Lawrence Onoja (Rtd), Sen. Daniel Onjeh, Sen. Ameh Ebute CON, Gen. Harrison Adoga, Gen. Chris Abutu Garuba (Rtd), Barr Ochai Onazi, and others.
He wondered why some persons are rejecting the collective decision of the party at a time they should rally round the consensus candidate, Austin Agada to move the party forward ahead of the 2023 elections.
He said, “For the records, precisely on the 14th day of September, 2021, there was a meeting chaired by Chief Simon Shango in Abuja. The meeting was attended by Chief John Ochoga, Alh. Usman Abubakar (Young Alhaji) Sen. Jack Tilly Gyado, Comrade Abbah Yaro and Buddy Adekpe and others, which zoned the State Chairmanship position to zone B with already made consensus Chairmanship candidate from zone B dressed in Agbada awaiting announcement.
“The zone A, APC family revolted against that decision, insisting that; the leader of the APC in Benue, Sen.( Dr) George Akume is from zone B, the Chairman of APC elders forum Chief Simon Shango is from Zone B and the leader is also contesting for National Chairman of the Party with claims that, idiologically, the State Chairman should come from zone A since Zone C the current occupant of the office. Indeed, it is a valid argument.
“It is on this premise that we the people of zone C had to step up the game by lobbying allies in zone A and B with Daniel Onjeh as the arrowhead which pushed the State Chairman’s position to Zone C On the 15th day of September 2021. Against this backdrop and to the glory of God, the Chairmanship position was officially zoned to Benue South senatorial district, Zone C.
You may agree with me that, the zone A with valid argument in the Tiv speaking area to produce the State Chairman, is the predominant zone contesting the 2023 governorship ticket along with zone C. If our contenders want the Chairmanship position in their zone, should we not fight to retain it in our zone?
“The zone A and B protagonists are of the view that, Comrade Abba Yaro had served two terms as State Chairman from zone c which is a statement of fact. We however drew their attention to Chief Barnabas Gemade when he was relieved as PDP National Chairman on which event Chief Audu Ogbeh was his replacement from the same Benue. In same vein, when Sen. Iyorcha Ayu was removed as President of the Senate, Sen. Ameh Ebute was elected from the same Benue State as his replacement. When the Presidency of the Senate came back to the North Central geo-political zone in 2007, Sen. David Mark was elected from Benue State against other six states from the geo-political zone, as such, I see nothing wrong with the zoning and microscopic zoning of the State Chairmanship position in zone C.
“It is on this note of convincing reality that I make bold to state that, it will be a plus for us the Idoma/Igede Nation to hold glue to the State chairmen of all political parties in Benue, especially the major political Parties, if we feel the need to achieve the dream of Benue State Governor of the Idoma/Igede extraction in the nearest future.”