Federal Character and Benue State Politics (2)

 They nomination of a certain veteran politician of Idoma extraction has brought to fore once again the competition for federal appointments and score keeping between the Tiv and Idoma.

Presently some Tiv nationalists are concerned that three high profile appointments in this administration, the minister of agriculture, a former chief of defense intelligence and this recent nomination are all to Zone C, dominated by the Idoma.

Some segments of the Tiv also lament this trend because the claim Zone C and many of its elected representatives are in the rival PDP and that by all accounts Zone C massively voted for the PDP and even re-elected the PDP’s David Mark over the APC candidate, Daniel Onjeh. 

However, One gets they sense that they Tiv do not necessarily have an issue with this recent nomination, except they fleeting feeling that the Tiv are losing the race for federal appointments in this dispensation despite having an APC governor and despite reportedly giving huge support to the APC in the last election.

For they Tiv, there is a sense that the Idoma have always had an advantage at the federal level while the Idoma point to the iron fisted control of the state machinery and domination of appointments and civil service by the Tiv.

Based on casual observations that the data is sure to support it is an exercise in futility trying to spin Tiv control of Benue state except concede that the Tiv dominate the state. The most telling proof the Idoma’s would point too is the fact that since the creation of Benue State in 1976 only the Tiv have produced the governor and continuously for three successive times since 1999.  

Moving over to the federal level, my brief and quick analysis of federal level appointments indicates they pendulum seemingly swinging between the two tribes accounting for the current seemingly lopsided appointments in favor of the Idoma this time around.

1.                 During the 3rd republic, the power dynamics zoned the senate presidency to Benue producing Senator Ayu, he was impeached and Senator Ebute succeeded him.

The Tiv appear to have cashed in massively during the regime of Obasanjo

2.                 Senator Gemade became PDP chairman and later lost re-election to Audi Ogbe.

3.                 General. Malu was appointed COAS and lasted for a few years while Morgan lasted less than a year in office.

4.                 Aondakar was justice minister and Hagher was appointed ambassador during Obasanjo’s regime with no Idoma in sight. Currently Ogbe is a minister of agriculture and Ifene is an ambassadorial nominee with no Tiv in sight.

5.                 Iyorchia Ayu returned for a six-year stint as minister of education and industry from 1999 to 2005 and Akiga was minister of interior.

A seemingly lopsided contest until: 

6.                 The senate presidency got zoned to Benue State once again and David Mark was elected senate president in 2007, he lasted in that position till 2015. His most notable influenced appointment was Abba Moro as minister of the interior and there are complaints by the Tiv that he flooded the ministry with Idomas over Tivs.

7.                 In 2015 sources related to David marks campaign released appointments he allegedly influenced as senate president, published below 

·       Chief Patrick Ogbu – Chairman, NTA

·       Late Chief Enyi Obande – Chairman, Lower Niger Basin Dev. Authority

·       Justice George Uloko – Chairman\Chief Complaints Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission.

·       Engr. Joseph Garba Anebi – Controller-General, Federal Fire Service

·       Prof. Francis Uba – Member, University College Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State

·       Dr. Jerry Agada – Chairman, National Commission for Colleges of Education

·       Prof. James Alachi – Chairman, Federal College of Education, Owerri

·       Prof James Alachi – Coordinator, National Open University of Nigeria, Otukpo Study Center

·       Prof. James Alachi – Chairman, David Mark Scholarship Board

·       Col. Idu Enonche (Rtd) – Chairman, National Institute of Sports, Lagos

·       Maj. Gen Lawrence Onoja (Rtd) – Chairman, National Institute of Sports, Lagos

·       Hon David Idoko – Chairman, Lower Niger River Basin Dev. Authority

·       Comrade Abba Moro – Chairman, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi

·       Dr Isaac Egboja – Chairman, National Veternary Research Institute, Vom

·       Prof. John Idoko – Director-General, NACA

·       Prof . John Obuh – Chairman, NAFDAC

·       Engr Egbe Igoh – Chairman, National Communications Commission

·       Comrade Abba Moro – Minister of Interior

·       Prof. Innocent Uja – Director-General, NMRA

·       Prof Michael Adikwu – VC, University of Abuja

·       Chief Bongos Ikwue – Chairman, National Film Commission

·       Dr. Matthias Oyigeya – Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Center Makurdi

·       Dr. Jerry Agada – Minister of State, Education

·       Chief Emmanuel Ogbile – Chairman, Public Complaints Commission

·       Chief Benson Abounu – Chairman of NTA

·       Ambassador Ogbeh Obande – Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland

·       Prof Shamshudeen Amali – VC, University of Ilorin

·       Mr Sam Odeh – Minister of State, Niger Delta

·       Gen. Geofrey Ejiga – Member, National Conference

·       Prof. Yakubu Ochefu – Member, National Conference

·       Dr. Robinson Elijah – Member, National Conference

·       Arc David Ochai – Member, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi

·       Hon Andrew Odumu – Member Benin-Owena River Basin Dev Authority

·       Rose Ameh – Member, Federal College of Education, Pankshin

·       Barr. John Ochoga – Member, Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa

·       Hon. Chief Godwin Ameh Udoh – Member, National Library of Nigeria

·       Hon. Geofrey Okpe – Member, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult, and Non Formal Education

·       Mrs. Joy Agi – Member, Benue State University Governing Council

·       Dr Michael Omojo – Member, Federal University of Agriculture Umudike

·       Dr Michael Omojo – Member, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi

·       Hon Godwin Abu Edo – Member, Border Communities Dev Agency

·       Hon. Mike Inalegwu – Member, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria

·       Mr. Samuel Ongwatabo – Member, Federal College of Chemical & Leather Technology, Zaria

·       Dr. Jerry Agada – SA to National Chairman Of People’s Democratic Party

·       Barr. Chris Audu War – Member, Legal Aid Council

·       Prof. Elizabeth Amuta – Member, Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru, Zaria

·       Mr. Christopher Abah – Member, Federal College of Education, (SSP) Kontagora

·       Prof Emmanuel Ameh – Chairman, University Teaching Hospital, Jos

·       Ambassador Godwin Agama- Carreer Ambassador (Posting)

·       Hon. Mrs Theresa Ikwue – Member, Nigerian Railway Corporation

·       Hon Comfort Obeya – Member, National Literacy Commission

·       Prof John Uko – Member, Constitutional Conference

·       Hon Joe Ochigbo – Member, National Institute of Nigeria Languages

·       Chief Augustine Ejembi – Member, National Examination Council NECO

·       Chief Augustine Ejembi – Member, Federal College of Education, Okene

·       Prof Ogoh Alubo – Member, Nigerian Universities Commission

·       Alh. Audu Sule – Member, National Insurance Commission

·       Chief John Enyi – Member, Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti

·       Hon. Ulaka Ulaka – Member, Federal College of Education, Okene

·       Chief Reuben Ade – Member, Presidential Task Force on Niger Delta

·       Arc Ojay Iyanya – Member, Governing Council, ABU Zaria

·       Hon Lawrence Edu – Member, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi

·       Hon. Augustine Ikeke

·       Hon Augustine Abe – Member, Nigerian Export Promotion Council

·       Hon. Edor Williams Ogbole – Member, Nigeria Technical Aids Corps

·       Hon Augustine Awodi – Member, Anambra-Imo River Basin Authority

·       Major Agbo (Rtd) – Member, Anamabra –Imo River Basin Dev Authority?

·       Hon. Alex Ineke – Federal Commissioner, National Boundary & Adjustment Commission

·       Princess Igbe Ogiri – Member, National Lottery Commission

·       Barrister Oga Ekwu – Member, Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu

·       Chief Ogbeche Onyilo – Member, Lower Niger Basin Dev Authority

·       Prof. Owoicho Akpa – Member, NPEB

·       Prof. Patricia Donli – Member, Education Trust Fund

·       Gen. Geofrey Ejiga (Rtd) – Member, Onne Oil & Gas Free Zone, Port Harcourt

·       Mr. Ajuh Ameh – Member, Sokoto Rima River Basin Dev Authority

·       Hon Adakole Adanu – Member, Nigerian Institute of Oil Palm Research

·       Ms. Alice Ochai – Member, National Centre for Women Development

·       Dr. Teddy Agida – Otubor Okhae Teaching Hospital Irua

·       Prof. Ediga Agbo – Member, Nigerian Educational Research & Development Council

·       Dr. Samson Ode Ichakpa – Member, National Gallery of Arts

·       Late Arch John Ameh – Member, FRCN

·       Dr. Isaac Igoh – Member, Pharmacist Council of Nigeria

·       Dr. Grace Ogwuche – Minister For Special Duties

·       Dr. Christy Ekoja – Member, Code of ConductBureau 85. Dr. Ada Chenge – Managing Director, Lower Benue Development Authority.

 8.      In a speech recently Senator Barnabas Gemade OFR lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent appointments of Tiv sons into Federal Government Establishments, particularly the recent appointments of Rev Dr Tor Ujah and Major General India Garba, as DG Nigerian Christians Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) respectively.

9.      Presently, as previously stated Audu Ogbe is the only minister from Benue and Ifene they only ambassadorial nominee.

Observations and Notes

A.    As at the time of publishing this report there was a paucity of data about the federal level appointments influenced by Tiv ministers and politicians, but they are sure to exist and must be discovered and counter-balanced against the unverified achievements and appointments adduced to the influence of David Mark.

b.  The Tiv appear to have cashed in massively in Federal appointments during the regime of Obasanjo while the Idoma cashed in during the regime of Yar Adua and Good luck Jonathan.

c . Benue State altogether has seen a decline in the number of high profile federal appointments during the current administration of Buhari.

(please expect an update and this is to be continued)

By Terhemba Osuji | October 24, 2016