OPINION: No Idoma Governor, no Apa State, no more Senate President – which way my people?

By Ameh Comrade Godwin

One of the things my grandmother, the late Aneh Adikwu Ojiji of the blessed memory, taught me was never to rejoice over any man’s fall.
But this time around, I am tempted to spurn that old counsel. I am tempted to seal my mouth and laugh through my virgin anus.
Well, it is no longer news that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress is sending the current leader, President Goodluck Jonathan back to his Otuoke country home come May 29.

In fact, President Jonathan had already accepted defeat even before the 2015 presidential election referee, Prof Attahiru Jega could announce the final result. Historic! Hugs Mr. President.
However, what interests me most in this contest was the outcome of the national assembly election.
The outcome of the election indicates that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has taken over as the majority at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, where Senator David Mark is serving as the High Chief Priest.

To further compound the whole drama, the emergence of Gen. Buhari as the president elect has no doubt literarily pulled down some people’s ego.
Before now, the Senate President, David Mark who is going for a record 20 years in the senate had enjoined the people of Benue Zone C senatorial district to vote him and President Goodluck Jonathan again. His reason? He would fight with the last drop of his blood for the actualisation of the long-awaited Apa State.

Already, battle is on over who takes the baton of leadership from Mark. Saraki or Akume have been tipped as possible successor.
When I penned down one of my articles with the headline: Apa state: Who is David Mark deceiving? towards the tail end of 2014, Many Idoma natives called to lambast me for rubbishing Okpokpowulu’s efforts.

In fact, some even described me an enemy of progress for writing off the ‘new bride’ the political chief priest of Idomaland had promised to bring for them from Aso Rock.
In my ‘prophetic’ article, while rejoicing with other millions of Idoma indigenes out there over the recommendation of the long-awaited Apa State, I reminded them not to be taken away by the ‘bait’ because you don’t dance to the music of Oturu masquerade with both legs.

It would be recalled that the hullabaloo about Apa State rejuvenated when delegates at the National Conference recommended the creation of 18 additional states with Apa boldly in the picture.
The news resurrected the dead hope of the Idomas on the birth of their beloved Apa State.

“Don’t get me wrong, I am not against State creation, especially my beloved Apa State, but from the look of things, this may eventually end up as an empty celebration considering the fact that the ongoing national conference may not take fire across the stream,” a passage from my write up reads.
But before I could say jack, war broke out over where the capital of Apa should be situated.

Some said Otukpo, others said, Otukpa, many said crisis-ridden Agatu should be the capital, while some equally wanted the powerhouse situated in Orokam. My country home, Owukpa was also suggested.
As if that was not enough, Apa State vehicle registration number with the inscription, Apa State: Ihotu Kum: Land of Beauty, Dreams and Talents, cropped up on social media. Many were already making plans to relocate home to welcome to the coming ‘king.’
However, I was quick to detect the trick behind the state creation campaign; so I had to warn my people not to put their eggs in one basket.

Before now, the Idoma community had decided to take the bull by the horn to break the 38 years old jinx come 2015. The Zone C is tired of playing second-class role in the state; they want to occupy the Government House, Makurdi in 2015.
But when the news of state creation dropped, the passion died. The agitators went back to their shells.
Eventually, the Idoma community failed to provide a governorship candidate in the two major parties in the state. The coming guber election would be Tivs’ affairs.

Earlier in my research on how states are created, especially during civilian dispensation, I was made to understand that it takes not less than five years for a state to be created.
It starts right from the conduct of a referendum and of course, you must determine the organ that will even conduct the referendum.
But as at today, the constitution doesn’t specify who should conduct the referendum.
I also discovered that from the referendum stage to the state House of Assembly, where it would be debated upon and passed, before it is sent to 2/3 of the states in the country, 24 must approve that the state is created.

Then, it comes to the National Assembly; each of the Houses will pass it. Then a joint committee would be set up to look at it, to recommend, then they vote on it. This takes not less than about four to five years to complete.
I agree with Elder statesman and ex-military governor of Kaduna/Kastina States, Gen. Lawrence Onoja, who once asserted that the campaign was a political gimmick construed to deceive Idoma people.

But Senate President, David Mark, sees it otherwise. For him, the Idoma should bury the idea of ruling Benue State come 2015 or in the nearest and wait for the coming Apa State. How long? If Mark could not bring Apa State as the number three man, how possible is it as a floor member or minority leader. This and more questions are begging for answer.
He opined that an Idoma man could only be a Governor if Apa State is Created or alternatively, the rotation of power clause among the senatorial zone is inserted in the 1999 constitution. This is far from expectation.

If there was a sincere demonstration on the part of Mark and co, when they were reviewing sections of the constitution, they would have reviewed the section that has to do with state creation to make it simple, but they didn’t. Nobody is popular for promises.

You are popular for what you do for people.
As my boss, Ali Adoyi would say, the pain of Apa State is even aside the pain of the ordinary Idoma man who is seen on the streets of Otukpo, lavishing in abject poverty. Yes, Mark is only an individual. He cannot solve all the problems of the Idoma people in about 12 years or so, but what has he done for the Idoma people since we mandated him to stand in for us? A trip to Otukpo via the only federal road can best justify my position.

Nobody, not even his fellow Senators will ever believe that the Otukpo- Makurdi road leads to Mark’s own town. NO! You won’t believe it. Go to Mark’s own community in Akpegede and you can tell yourself the rest of the story.

As the wind of change continues to sweep through the four corners of the nation, I ask: Dear David Mark, I hope you will fight with the last drop of your blood give us Apa State.