Benue State is made up of three major tribes – Tiv, Idoma and Igede – spread across 23 Local Government Areas, with other minority groups. However, Tiv people for a reason of population, geographical spread have had advantage over other tribes in determining who becomes the Governor of the State. Since the creation of Benue state in 1976, the Tiv people who constitute over 80% of the population, voting strength and landmass have produced elected Governors.
HISTORY OF ELECTED GOVERNORS IN BENUE STATE
Since its creation on 3rd February, 1976, Benue State has produced elected Governors in the following order:
- Late Apollos Aper Aku (October 1979 – December 1983)
- Late Moses Orshio Adasu (January 1992 – November 1993)
- Sen. Dr. George Akume (May 29, 1999 – May 29, 2007)
- Rt. Hon. Gabriel Suswam (May 29, 2007 – May 29, 2015)
- Chief Samuel Ortom (May 28, 2015 – May 29, 2023)
- Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia (May 29, 2023 to date)
THE ROTATION AMONG TIV POLITICAL BLOCKS
These Governors came from the five major political blocks of Tiv land:
– Kwande: Kwande and Ushongo LGAs
– Jechira: Vandeikya and Konshisha LGAs
– Jemgbagh: Gboko, Buruku and Tarka LGAs
– Sankera: Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala LGAs
– MINDA: Gwer-East, Gwer-West, Guma and Makurdi LGAs
The rotation is clearly illustrated as follows:
- Kwande – Late Apollos Aper Aku
- Jechira – Late Moses Orshio Adasu
- Jemgbagh – George Akume
- Sankera – Gabriel Suswam
- MINDA – Samuel Ortom
- Jechira (2nd time) – Hyacinth Alia
WHY KWANDE MUST PRODUCE THE NEXT GOVERNOR
From the above illustrations:
- Late Apollos Aper Aku was the pioneering elected Governor of Benue State 43 years ago.
- After the forceful termination of Aku’s administration by the military, the other four blocks have all produced elected Governors. It therefore became a common feeling that the 2023 Governorship slot should restart from Kwande. This strong belief inspired Kwande sons like Chief Terlumun Akputu, Tersoo Mnenga, Tersoo Mark Hanmation, Engr. Nick Wende, Engr. Terver Atsar, Terwase Orbunde, and Chief Mike Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, among others, to contest during the 2023 APC Governorship Primaries. Unfortunately, they all met brick walls.
In 2023, the then Governor, Samuel Ortom led the PDP to cede the seat to Jechira, and Sen. George Akume, then Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs and now Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), led the APC family to follow the same decision. Their action was taken out of sympathy, compassion and in the spirit of proportionate justice, to allow Jechira to complete the tenure that was truncated during Adasu’s regime in 1992.
- Nevertheless, While ceding the position to Jechira in 2023, the people of Benue assured Kwande of the next turn in Government House in 2027 after a Jechira Governor in 2023. And here comes the right time for a Kwande Governor! Same justice! same fair play!
To translate this promise into reality, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has unanimously produced Chief Mike Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, as its flagbearer for the 2027 Governorship race.
Recently, the Supreme Council of Kwande Elders, popularly known as “Ityo I Nongor Atu” in Tiv language, hosted Chief Aondoakaa in Adikpo and endorsed him as the sole Governorship candidate of both Kwande Barakuv and Kwande Barazov worldwide for the 2027 race. Over one thousand elders gave him their Ancestral blessings to brave all odds, calling on all Benue people to come out en masse and vote for him for a greater Kwande. Public commentators have rated the blessings Aondoakaa received as one of the highest in Tiv cosmology. At the same meeting the “Ityô I Nongor Atu” declared, affirmed and solicited for a single tenure of four (4) years from the people of Benue State, just enough for their son to complete the tenure of the Late Ape Aku.
Chief Aondoakaa, a well-trained and experienced lawyer, practical democrat, seasoned politician and businessman, tested and proven worthy in character and performance, comes in fulfillment of the promise made by Benue political Stakeholders to Kwande in 2023. We hereby present one of our best Mike Kaase Aondokaa, SAN, for election as Governor of Benue State in the 2027 general elections.
Sponsored by: KWANDE DEMOCRATS
