Idoma man can’t govern Benue, Tiv not ready to hand over power – Steve Lawani

Former Benue State Deputy Governor, Chief Steven Lawani, has reignited the debate over power rotation in the state, alleging that the dominant Tiv ethnic group was not prepared to hand over the governorship to an Idoma person.

Lawani, who served as deputy governor between 2007 and 2011 under former Governor Gabriel Suswam, said ethnic considerations had frustrated his ambition to become governor despite his political experience and efforts to secure the position.

Speaking in an interview with Daily Trust, the former deputy governor said the reluctance to transfer power to a minority ethnic group was the major reason he failed to succeed Suswam.

“But it had to do with the major tribe in the state feeling unprepared to hand over to a minority tribe. That was simply the reason, not because I was considered incapable. They were simply not ready to hand power over to a minority tribe,” Lawani said.

Lawani, an indigene of Otukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, disclosed that he contested the governorship after completing his tenure as deputy governor but lost out despite defeating the eventual winner in the party’s primary election.

He maintained that the outcome reflected the influence of ethnic considerations in the state’s political calculations.

“I am sure you are not new to the politics of this place. The same factor remains still today,” he added.

The former deputy governor also recounted his attempt to contest the governorship under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023, alleging that the rules of the party’s primary election were changed at the last minute.

According to him, party stakeholders had prepared for an indirect primary before the process was changed to a direct primary on the day of voting.

Lawani said he subsequently withdrew from the race, believing that the circumstances did not favour his ambition.

“I left and said that enough was enough; I was not going to bother myself anymore, as there was no chance for an Idoma man to be governor in Benue State,” he said.

He, however, said he remained active in politics and continued to support the APC despite his disappointments.

Lawani’s comments have brought renewed attention to the longstanding debate over ethnic representation and the distribution of political power in Benue State, particularly calls for an Idoma governor from Benue South Senatorial District.

The claims reflect Lawani’s personal account of his political experiences and his interpretation of the factors that shaped his governorship ambitions.