BREAKING: ‘Deputy gov’s wife should serve as Benue First Lady’ – Idoma youth rejects Scolastica Bem-Sor’s appointment

A Benue-based socio-cultural group, the Ochetohak’idoma Youth Wing Worldwide, has rejected the designation of Hon. Scolastica Bem-Sor as the First Lady of Benue State, insisting that the wife of the Deputy Governor should occupy the ceremonial role.

The group made its position known in a statement issued on Monday, arguing that established protocol and constitutional convention should guide the recognition of the state’s foremost female representative.

Addressing recent public discussions surrounding the designation of Bem-Sor as First Lady, the group maintained that the office is traditionally reserved for the spouse of the elected governor.

According to the group, Governor Hyacinth Alia, being a Catholic priest and unmarried, does not have a spouse to occupy the position. It therefore argued that, in such circumstances, the wife of the Deputy Governor should assume the responsibilities associated with the office.

“In the absence of a Governor’s spouse, standard governmental and ceremonial protocol across Nigeria recognizes the wife of the Deputy Governor as the next-ranking female representative of the state. She is therefore the appropriate person to serve in the capacity of First Lady for official functions, state events, and advocacy initiatives,” the statement said.

The group further warned against actions it said could be interpreted as political nepotism, arguing that appointing an individual outside established protocol could create unnecessary division and distract from governance.

It called on the Benue State Government, political stakeholders, and the media to respect institutional precedence by according the wife of the Deputy Governor the recognition and responsibilities of the First Lady.

The statement was signed by the President of the Ochetohak’idoma Youth Wing Worldwide, Comrade Magaji Mike Alidu.

The Benue State Government has yet to officially respond to the group’s position.