APC chairmanship: Dan Onjeh breaks silence, advises Audu Ogbe, Abba Yaro

BENUE APC MICRO-ZONING AND MATTERS ARISING: LOOKING AT THE BIGGER PICTURE

It has become necessary for me to express my informed position on the raging controversies emanating from the micro-zoning of the Benue APC Chairmanship position to Ogbadibo Local Government. As it stands, brothers are divided against themselves over the matter, to the extent that our Father, Chief Audu Ogbeh, was recently disparaged by some younger members of our party, over his position that the Chairmanship position should be re-zoned out of Benue South. Therefore, my silence over the matter is no longer dignified.

Regarding the call by Chief Ogbeh that the State Chairmanship position should be zoned out of Benue South to enable us focus on clinching the gubernatorial ticket, I think we have gone way past that stage now. I therefore humbly urge him and his supporters to align with the current reality. I equally appeal to all stakeholders to desist from making further unsavoury responses to Chief Ogbeh’s position, as it is only uncultured youths that brazenly hurl insults on their elders.

Unfortunately, all of these are happening at a crucial point of our zone’s pursuit for the governorship of the state. It is therefore pertinent for us to address the issue and put it behind us once and for all, in order to make progress.

In my view, the congress activities are the very building blocks of political parties in a democracy. From my basic knowledge of political science, parties are established with the sole purpose of capturing political power. Anything short of that reduces us to a mere social organization. Therefore, it is very important for the leadership of the party to listen to the complaints of its members however little it may be, because they are the very people that would defend the votes of the party at the general elections. No matter how popular a party is, if its members sabotage it, it is bound to lose any election.

I make bold to state that I was in the fore-front of the agitation for zoning of the Benue APC Chairmanship position to Benue South, in order to enable us pursue our gubernatorial ambition from the position of strength moreso, as our brothers from Zone A who are also gunning for the same governoship position we’re said to have demanded to keep the party Chairman position in their zone. Consequently, I’ve been fingered in a lot of accusations, some claiming that I influenced the subsequent micro-zoning to Ogbadibo, in a bid to enthrone my preferred candidate. But that notion is totally misconceived. My agitation only stopped at ensuring that the position was retained in Benue South. The decision for the micro-zoning of the position within the senatorial district was totally beyond me. The fact that I earlier elected to support another son of Ogbadibo to aspire for the office and not Com. Abba Yaro, the outgoing Chairman, was because like many others, I only learnt that the position was eventually micro-zoned to Ogbadibo.

Ever since the micro-zoning was announced, the backlash has been incessant. I’ve received countless calls and messages from genuine stakeholders and party faithfuls from across the nine local governments comprising Benue South, and all I hear are cries for justice, fairness and equity, which are the tripod principles that our party, the APC, stands on. Unfortunately, these complaints are yet to be addressed, thereby germinating a seed of discord that must be nipped in the bud immediately, in order to save the party from drifting apart in the zone.

I will like to reveal at this juncture that much earlier, our party Chairman, Com. Abba Yaro, had consulted with me regarding his intention to recontest his office. Of course, the party Congress Guidelines grants him a waiver to seek re-election. But after the controversial micro zoning was concluded, I called to notify him of my preference for someone else from Ogbadibo to vie for the office over him; someone youthful, energetic and experienced. Indeed, I apologized to him for my decision, because he is a friend and brother. However, I mustered the courage to inform him that I could not support him based on sentiments, as in all honesty, the leadership of the party under him had grossly mismanaged the political fortunes of the party over the last eight years, culminating in our abysmal outing, particularly in the last general elections.

Recall that prior to the 2019 general elections, the APC had popularity and acceptability; hence it was our golden opportunity to take-over power at all levels in the state. But we lost woefully, particularly in Benue South. That’s why I sincerely apologized to Com. Abba Yaro, while explaining my preference for another son of Ogbadibo for his current position. I was equally believing that our brothers and sisters from the other nine local governments of Zone C, who are conversant with the issues in the party, would also prefer someone else other than Com. Abba Yaro, to be the party Chairman after the next state congress.

Indeed, party structure is not about the physical representation of people; it is about acceptability. Therefore, the bickering on this very sensitive issue of the micro-zoning is shaking the very foundation of our party in the state, especially in Zone C. Once again, I’m at a crossroad, where my action and conscience are in conflict. Hence, I am compelled to speak up, to call a spade a spade, regardless of whose ox is gored, so that the right thing can be done.

There’s a maxim in law that nothing can stand on nothing. No matter how hard we try to sweettalk, to market our position, the truth still stares at all of us in the face. From every nook and cranny of Benue South, complaints are filtering-in. Some people are afraid to speak up, yet they are whispering. They are threatening to leave the party in droves, or to work against the interest of the party at the general elections.

Permit me to articulate the complaints emanating from the micro-zoning process thus:

i. That Com. Abba Yaro had served as State Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigerian (ACN), from which majority of us in the APC came, for three straight years; and after the merger to form the APC, he still held onto the office of Chairman for another eight years. It is hoped that the office of state party chairman would be rotated within the zone; just like we are urging our brothers from Zones A and B, to relinquish the position of state governor to us on the grounds of their philosophy of, “chop and give your brother to chop.” So, when I and others tried to tender the argument that we needed someone youthful and energetic from Ogbadibo to take over the reins of the party, those opposed to the view informed us that majority of the aspirants for the coveted office from the other local governments, were equally very youthful, energetic and experienced.

ii. Furthermore, some people complained that the stakeholders’ meeting convened by Chief John Ochoga recently in Abuja, did not touch on the issue of micro-zoning, neither did it arrive at which constituency the position should go to. While Senator Ameh Ebute made a strong case for the position to go to Old Otukpo Federal constituency, particularly Apa-Agatu, Young Alhaji vehemently opposed the notion, demanding that it should be retained in Old Okpokwu Federal Constituency. It almost amounted to a rowdy session; hence the deliberation was adjourned to the following day. Unfortunately, Chief John Ochoga sat down and single-handedly wrote-out the zoning and micro-zoning arrangement as he deemed pleased, without the contribution of others like Senator Ebute, Chief Steven Lawani and others who were involved in the previous meeting. So, the outcome did not reflect any consensus, or the collective will of Benue South people.

iii. Some persons have also complained that it is unimaginable for a similar scenario to play out in Tiv land; where party Chairmanship would be retained in a particular local government after the incumbent office holder has held that office for eight consecutive years. In fact, they doubt if such scenario could play out in any part of Nigeria, citing that it is verifiable that most of the executive positions of the party zoned to Tiv land, were fairly rotated across the local governments constituting Zones A and B.

iv. In addition, some of the aspirants for the office of party Chairman are the ones making the loudest ululations. Some argue that they’ve been on the road for over a year, in a bid to contest the chairmanship position. They maintain that the consensus has failed, because their hairs were shaved in their absence. Hence, they are not party to any consensus. As such, it has failed. Therefore, they are calling for an election.

Accordingly, my take on the matter, from the preponderance of opinion enumerated above, is as follows:

i. Even though I intended to maintain a dignified silence and neutrality on this matter as an aspirant in the forthcoming general election, considering how I’ve been a victim of series of conspiracy in the party in times past, if I place my ambition above the interest of the generality of the people in my party, particularly those from Benue South, then I am not morally qualified to represent my people at any level. I’ve therefore decided to speak the truth as it is, regardless of my political ambition. I believe that when we get to the bridge, we shall cross it. But for now, I am speaking for the very people whom I seek to represent.

ii. Therefore, I must honestly admit that the logical concerns raised by the avalanche of complaints from across the nine local governments of Benue South are pointers to the fact that the situation is terribly bad. I’ve tried personally, to convince people to accept the micro-zoning arrangement as it stands, in the interest of peace. But the more I did that, the more I found out that more issues were precipitating and threating the very unity of the party. Indeed, a political party is not the affair of an individual, it is a collective engagement. While a candidate may be wining on one side during an election, he needs complementary votes from the other ends, to emerge winner. So, even if your local government alone delivers block votes to you, it cannot guarantee your victory to any elective office outside that local government, in a general election.

iii. And if indeed the core essence of any political party is to capture power, then we must do whatever is necessary to accommodate the plight of our members, foster unity and reposition our party now, in order not to lose the opportunity of clinching power again in 2023. At this stage, we must fix our gaze on the bigger picture, which is winning elections.

iv. The truth is that Com. Abba Yaro has held the office of our party Chairman for eight consecutive years. It is also true that such a scenario couldn’t have played out in Zones A and B. Also, it is true, Sen. Ameh Ebute’s position, that him and others were not part of those that took the final decision to micro-zone the party’s positions. I also wasn’t part of that decision either. I recall that in Chief John Ochoga’s Opening Remark to the party stakeholders in first day of the meeting in Abuja as the Chairman of the APC Elders’ Forum in Benue Zone C, he clearly stated that, “this is my zoning”, stating further that he was presenting his own proposal for the sharing of the various party executive positions in Zone C, and leaving out only the Chairmanship position, which he said was to be decided by the stakeholders. However, his proposal was opposed by Young Alhaji and others. Hence, no harmony was achieved at that Abuja stakeholders’ meeting.

v. Furthermore, some stakeholders argued that the meeting, which concerned Benue South people, should have been held in Benue South. Hence, they were opposed to the idea of hosting the meeting in Abuja, in the first instance. Of course, it is always an exhilarating experience for stakeholders to converge in their droves outside the venue of a meeting of their party’s leaders or delegates, to await the outcome. It strengthens the party. But when party activities are taken outside the jurisdictions of the party, and conducted like a clandestine ritual, only for resolutions and names to be bandied for the people to accept hook, line and sinker, it begins to gradually weaken the bonds of affection among party faithfuls at the grassroots. Therefore, even though we have elected to determine our party executive positions by consensus, we should be seen to be guided by the tenets of democracy. There needs to be at least, the semblance of party activities going on. It is obvious that the controversial microzoning was done by Chief John Ochoga and few other aspirants, with the vested interest of tactically knocking out their opponent from where the position was micro-zoned to.

vi. It is a fundamental responsibility of government, to uphold the people’s right to justice and equity. The fact is that the manner in which we conduct ourselves as a party is of critical importance; as the electorates, who are the true custodians of power, are all keenly watching us. We must convincingly demonstrate to them from our internal conducts, our capacity to deliver justice to them.

vii. It is said that he who comes to equity, must come with clean hands. We have pleaded with our Tiv brothers from Zones A and B, to cede the gubernatorial ticket of the party to us. It is therefore incumbent on us to convince them that we are also fair and equitable in the distribution of political power within our own domain.

My recommendations :

My conclusive recommendation on this matter are as follows:

i. That whatever has been surreptitiously done by Chief John Ochoga and few others, should be subjected to a critical review at an expanded meeting of genuine party stakeholders, including all aspirants; and convoked in Benue South, preferably in our central city, Otukpo. This would go a long in calming frayed nerves.

ii. Even when we arrive at a genuine consensus, I recommend that stakeholders should mobilize delegates to Makurdi for endorsement and affirmation of those that would eventually emerge as party executives, so that it would be on record that a genuine state congress by affirmation was held. All those who struggled to become state delegates from their local governments, should at least be given the chance to participate at the state congress, as this would further strengthen our party. With the recent postponement of the state congresses to October 16th this year, we have enough time to call on all stakeholders to move towards this direction.

iii. Above all, where consensus fails, in line with the provisions of the party constitution and guidelines, all aspirants who had bought their Nomination Forms, should be given a level playing ground to contest in the state congress. This would also give the opportunity to all party delegates across the state, to elect a substantive Chairman of their choice.

iv. What is sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander. If it is eventually decided that the zoning of the State party chairmanship should be retained in the same place it has been for the past eight years, then we should be fair enough to maintain the previous zoning arrangement in the whole of Benue State. If that is not possible, and people feel otherwise about it, then they may understand the true pulse of the Benue South people at this moment.

My positions above are in the best interest of the party. The only thing I stand to lose by telling the truth, is to suffer another round of conspiracy and victimization at the party primaries. A philosopher has once posited that, “when falsehood becomes an institution, truth looks like rebellion.” But I am of the popular opinion that, “silence in the face of injustice is complicity with the oppressor.” Therefore, I am unperturbed, as I am prepared to pay any price for standing by the truth. I have been a human rights activist and social crusader for all of my adult life, having been compelled on several occasions to speak up to the authorities on burning social issues, even at the least convenience. So, my hope is ultimately in God’s hands, and I believe that at His appointed time, He would cause the sun, the moon, the oceans and all other elements of nature to work in favour of my ambition. I have just obtained peace by taking this position. The rest is up to the people of Benue South, and Benue APC stakeholders in general.

Thank you.

Comrade Daniel Donald Onjeh