By Chris Agabi
The Conglomerate of Benue South APC Forum and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Benue Chapter have berated the Coalition of Idoma Professionals for calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume.
Both APC organisations described the Idoma professionals as envious and wanted to reap.where they didn’t plant.
The Chief Convener of Conglomerate of Benue South APC Forum, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi and a former APC Governorship Aspirant, Benue State while addressing a press conference in Abuja said the so called Idoma Professionals who are lamenting are not even members of the APC and actively worked against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Group passed a vote of confidence on President Tinubu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. George Akume.
The text of their briefing read in part:
“We read with great dismay, the press conference by some idoma/Igede older persons most of whom are not of the APC stock, people who never Campaign for the Party, some were even seen campaigning for other political parties and made statements on National television against the APC and voted against Presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“When it was time to unite the Idoma/Igede nation, one Johnson Inalegwu Agada who was part of the 29th July, press conference, led a group of Idoma/Igede people in the guise of G-9 and went round candidates of opposition parties, a sabotage that heavily reduced the collective votes of our party in Zone C.
“Some of the persons including a former House of Representative Member Godday Samuel Adagboyi lost his re-election bid on the hill of his indecisive nature of campaigning for his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“It was alleged that it was Godday Samuel Adagboyi who introduced Mr Peter Obi to Pastor Dr Paul Enenche, the reason why he refused to join the State Campaign team safe for his personal electioneering Campaign which he printed all his campaign materials without the picture of the President, Vice Governor or Senatorial Candidates of the APC. To the glory of God, he was the only House of Representatives candidate of APC who lost his election in Benue State.
“Without consultations with critical stakeholders and Party leadership in the zone, Chief Audu Ogeh and company signed a letter endorsing the same Godday Samuel Adagboyi as the choice of the Idoma/Igede people of Benue South long before the appointment of Sen. Dr George Akume as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF.
“Some of us advised that, the Choice of Godday will not scale through because he was always seated behind our brother, Pastor Dr Paul Enenche each time the pastor takes deadly campaign against the APC. Because we were not Consulted, the letters were let out before our advice came in.
It is disappointing that, thesame Godday was “seated at the press conference where Mr President is been discredited for his selfish reasons.” Gone are the days when Monkey the work, Baboon the chop” as the purported press conference is to further divide Benue instead of uniting it.
“We unanimously express our disappointment over the Press conference taken by these older persons of the zone on Saturday, 29th July, 2023 where they brought complain to the media instead of matching to the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces or the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for effective action. We consider their action as blackmail against the President and a quest to deprive the young Idoma/Igede people who worked tirelessly for the votes we gathered during the last elections.
“The elders abandoned the campaign completely, most of them voted against the APC during the elections and they are now the ones complaining about appointment. This is the reason why we preached synergy during the elections and the need to work wholeheartedly for the APC.
“While we sincerely wish the Idoma/Igede nation is given the opportunity to produce a Federal Minister, which is still possible with the second batch of Ministerial nominee, we expect the elders to congratulate the Benue State nominee just as the Leader of the Party, Sen George Akume did when Comrade Abba Moro was appointed Minister during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration with Sen. David Mark as Senate President. Both Mark and Abba are from zone c extraction.
“While passing vote of confidence on the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen George Akume. We appeal that the younger Idoma/Igede people who have worked for the party should be considered for Federal appointments as we are ably qualified to for all available positions “
In a similar vain, the APC in Benue State said the Idoma Professionals are opposition elements hiding under the toga of Coalition of Idoma Professionals.
A statement signed by Daniel Ihomun, the State Publicity Secretary, APC, Benue State, stated that it “is on record that those who appeared in the press conference worked for the LP and PDP against our great party, the APC during the last elections. Some of them sponsored candidates in other political parties to contest against candidates of our party.”
“These men connived with Pastor Paul Enenche to sponsor the LP in Zone C. It is also on record that these persons were working for the LP Presidential Candidate Mr Peter Obi and this led to the APC losing the 2023 Presidential elections in most parts of Zone C. Shockingly, these men who never worked for our party to win elections have overnight turned around to demand the spoils of victory” the statement noted.
“We want to state categorically clear that the APC in BENUE state supports the Ministerial nomination of Engr. Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev from Benue State by His Excellency, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Prof Utsev is imminently qualified for the job”.the statement indicated.
“Unfortunately, retrogressive and unappreciative elements that make up the so-called Coalition of Idoma Professionals were never seen near APC campaigns that produced President BAT and Governor Alia but have the impetus to condemn the nomination and make demands of those who are in a position of authority” the statement indicated
President Bola Tinubu has always been a friend and in love with Benue state and currently, Idoma sons and daughters are holding key positions both at the Federal and State levels such as;1. Dr Mrs Mary Adah Ogbe, Permanent Secretary, Federal Civil Service.2. Arc. Sunny Ochonu, Executive Secretary, TETFUND, 3. Maj. Gen. J. O. Ochai, 32nd Commander Nigerian Defense Academy. 4. Dr Barr. Sam Ode, mni, Deputy Governor, Benue State, 5. Dr Moses Agbogbo Ode, Head of Service, Benue State, 6. Comrade Austin Agada, Chairman, APC Benue State and 7. Hon. Mrs Lami Danladi Ogenyi, Deputy Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly.
The statement also affirmed that “the Benue APC passes a vote of confidence on PBAT and the SGF. The Benue people will continue to support the PBAT administration to transform Nigeria and better the lives of its citizens.”
He called on the group to apologize. “We urge the group to be humble enough to apologize to the people of Benue South for steering them off the trend of Nigerian politics and seek the forgiveness of leaders of the APC in Benue state for the internal sabotage they did to the party during the last elections.”
Benue APC also said all hopes are not lost for more inclusive appointments.
“We are sure that as more appointments are rolled out by the Tinubu administration, more Benue people will be considered with distinguished sons of Idoma/I de not left out.”
“We urge Benue people to disregard the outing of these men who are trying to exploit our fault lines for their selfish interests. BENUE will continue to pray and work for the Tinubu administration to succeed for the greater good of all Nigerians” the statement noted..
