Benue: Will Tiv Domination End?
The politics of Benue State has been more or less a one-way traffic: head or tail, it has always been a Tiv man in the Government House. But with realignment of forces, 2007 may present an interesting scenerio. Daniel Ior reports from Makurdi
Benue State is popular for many things. It is however, most fondly called the Food Basket of the Nation. That perhaps, is one of the few elements that is common to the over ten tribes that make up the 28-year-old state. Other issues shared by the entire population include lack of federal presence: poor road network, lack of potable water, electricity and poor health service delivery.
There is however, one big dividing factor that has over the years, kept the political climate heated and restive. Although the state is made up of minority tribes, one contending issue that has always troubled its political arena is the issue of minority within a minority. Among the tribes that make up the state, the Tiv people said to be the fifth most populous tribe in the country constitutes the dominant tribe and make up 75 percent of the total population. The Idoma people have the second largest population, and together with the Igede tribe they constitute nine local governments and form the bulk of the remaining 25 percent of the population.
Although the next general elections expected to usher in the next democratically elected government of the state is still three years away, one obvious albatross visibly hanging on the neck of the over three million people is, which section or tribe would produce the next governor for the state?
In all the past two democratic regimes, the Tiv people have produced the governorship: from late Aper Aku (1979-1983) to Rev. Fr. Moses Adasu (1992-1993) and now Mr George Akume who has been on the saddle since 1999.
Among the minority tribes, the Idomas are the strongest contenders given their numerical strength. They are closely followed by the Igede who believe alignment with the Tiv majority could create a possible advantage that can change the numerical advantage enjoyed by the Idomas over them.
An amalgamation of Idoma political leaders under the aegis of Idoma Political leaders during a recent visit to Governor George Akume, said it was the turn of the Idoma people to produce the governor of the state come 2007 general elections.
Contending Arguments
One of the biggest trading points for the Idoma people of zone "C" is that the Tiv people who make up zones "A" and "B" have already produced a governor from each of the two zones. They insist that as indigenes of the state with the same stakes and equal rights, considerations of good neighbourliness should outweigh the factor of numerical disadvantage affecting them.
They also argue that they have been marginalised by previous regimes. Here they point at the establishment of the Benue State University in Makurdi in zone "B" and the siting of the Benue Cement Company, Gboko, also in zone "B" as clear indicators of marginalisation.
Although the immediate past Secretary to the Benue State government Engr. Bartholomew Oche said his Idoma kinsmen from zone "C" have more appointments under the governor George Akume administration than all the zones in Tivland put together, the Idomas still insist they are being marginalised in terms of appointments in the state.
They also insist on sharing positions in the civil service with the Tivs on a 50/50 basis. During the regime of former military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), for instance, the Idomas argued that with the creation of Taraba the numerical advantage enjoyed by the Tiv people against them had been lost. Despite census exercises conducted since then showing figures to the contrary, the argument has refused to die.
However, one grey area the majority Tiv tribe has questioned is the issue of appointments into the federal civil service, recruitment into the armed forces, federal parastatals, and other federal organs.
For over two decades they insist the Idoma people have maintained a marginalising grip against the Tivs in all recruitment into all cadres of the Nigeria Army, the Police, Navy, Airforce, Security services, including appointment into the Foreign Service.
Available statistics they say indicate that within the last 20 years the Idomas have controlled over 85 percent of recruitment made from Benue State into all the armed forces in the country. They also exert a similar measure of control on appointments into the federal civil service.
The Tiv people also argue that they have indeed being treating their Idoma brothers as equals. They say for instance that when Dr. Iyorchia Ayu was removed as Senator President they gave the position to the Idomas although there was another Tiv Senator. When again they wanted to change Chief Barnabas Gemade (a Tiv
Man),as National Chairman of PDP, they gave the plum party position to an Idoma, Chief Audu Ogbeh.
They therefore argue that as things stand today, rather than the Tivs, it is the Idomas that are marginalising the Tiv people. In a recent meeting of party elders in zone "A" therefore, the people resolved to contest the governorship come 2007.
The Internal Conflicts
Beyond the fears expressed by the majority Tiv population, the other minority tribes, particularly the Igede, are yet to believe that an Idoma governor would translate into better fortunes for the minorities.
One evident factor is that the Igedes have always sided with the Tiv people. They did so during the govenorship election that brought Rev. Fr. Moses Adasu into office. They also sided with the Tiv people during debates on critical matters that needed to sway decisions between the Tiv and the Idomas in the State Assembly. They refer to the fact that their son Late Ogiri Ajene was elected the first Och'Idoma as an accident of history, which they claim the Idomas have vowed would never be repeated. They also point at the refusal of the Idoma people to allow them have their own first class traditional ruler as another disturbing factor.
The Igedes are also worried that like the Tivs, they are disproportionately recruited or appointed into the various federal organs, even though they are also from the same zone "C".
Minority Hausa population that is fast growing in the state has also made their preferences on the governorship issue come 2007 outside the Idoma group.
Dr. Godwin Dabo, a Tiv man in a recent statement said the Tiv people would prefer to give the governorship to the Igede people of zone "C", as according to him, to give the position to the Idomas would only equip them to complete the circle of marginalisation.
The thinking here is that until the imbalance existing and being sustained by well orchestrated strategies on all federal appointments and recruitment are dismantled the dream of the Idoma minority would be difficult to accomplish. But despite their numerical disadvantage, the Idomas are planning well. A firm grip on federal organs and agencies may eventually do the magic. The thinking here is that with continued employment of their little population while unemployment levels continue to swell among the Tiv people who produce more graduates yearly, with time they would utilise issues of poverty and social tensions that would naturally emerge among the Tivs, to capture state power.
While the waiting game lasts, it is not clear if the majority tribe in the state is so far ready to allow the minority group have a taste of the number one position. They would prefer to hold unto it until the balance of equation is resolved at the federal level to reflect the federal character they said is currently being grossly abused against the dominant Tiv population.
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