‘The Tiv are not our problem, we are’ — David Onoja speaks on Idoma marginalisation, Alia, 2027 race

Pharmacist David Onoja Ekokowoicho, a House of Representatives hopeful for Ado, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, has said the major political challenge facing the people of Benue South is internal disunity rather than the Tiv ethnic group.

Onoja, who is seeking the Enone Federal Constituency seat on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, stated this during an appearance on The Conversation on Idoma Television.

Speaking on the long-standing debate over the alleged political marginalisation of the Idoma people in Benue State, Onoja said he does not believe marginalisation is the fundamental problem confronting the zone.

“For me, I do not think that there’s anything like marginalisation. It is lack of unity that has brought us to this,” he said.

According to him, political developments, including the struggle for party tickets, have demonstrated the need for leaders and stakeholders in Benue South to close ranks if the zone wants to strengthen its political influence.

Onoja argued that the people would stand a better chance of achieving their political objectives if they could unanimously agree on candidates and remain united behind them.

“If the entire Benue South comes together to unanimously agree to say, ‘We want to present this person,’ and stand by it, why not?” he asked.

He further rejected the notion that the Tiv should be blamed for the political challenges facing the Idoma people.

“The Tiv people are not that hard, if I must tell you. I mean, I’ve worked with some of them. They are not that hard.

“We’ve got to try a new thing. But how can that work when you are projecting yourself and your brother comes back to say, ‘No, no, no, we are not working with this one?’” he said.

Asked whether the biggest challenge confronting the people was therefore internal rather than the Tiv, Onoja responded, “It’s ourselves, not the Tiv.”

Speaking on the administration of Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, the NDC hopeful, however, said he does not believe the Idoma people have received a fair share of appointments, projects and government attention.

Asked directly whether Benue South had received a fair share under the administration, Onoja said, “Obviously no. If we must call a spade a spade, obviously no.”

He acknowledged what he described as recent road interventions by the Alia administration in Benue South but said he could not determine whether they were part of a deliberate development agenda or influenced by the approaching 2027 elections.

“However, I noticed some interventions just recently, some road interventions and the rest. I do not know if it is political for the next election or it is intentional. But that’s left to the governor himself,” he said.

On the 2027 race for Enone Federal Constituency, Onoja said he believes he has what it takes to represent the people, urging voters to assess his antecedents rather than merely accept campaign promises.

He said the electorate should “verify” his record and compare his words with what he has done in the past.

“Go check about me. Like His Excellency Peter Obi would say, ‘Verify.’ Go verify. Verify. Where and where has he been? What and what has he done? How has he done it?” he said.

Onoja, who described his ambition as a burden to improve the condition of his people, said his priorities if elected would include security, employment, healthcare and infrastructural development.

He also called for issue-based campaigns ahead of the election, warning aspirants and their supporters against campaigns of calumny and attempts to destroy the reputation of political opponents.

According to him, all candidates cleared to participate in the contest should concentrate on convincing the electorate about what they can offer rather than attacking one another.