BY PETER DURU

THE attention of Nigerians and the global community would be on the Benue South senatorial District where the Senate Present David Mark of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP would slug it out with retired General Lawrence Onoja of the Action Congress of Nigeria ACN; who was at a time the former General Staff Officer to Late Head of State General Sanni Abacha.

Mark is gunning for a record fourth term at the Senate of the Federal Republic, and his election has become a major attraction of some sort for all keen observers of the nation’s evolving democracy.

The reason for this is not far fetched, if he wins the senatorial seat he would be in pole position to seek another term as Senate President after his record breaking era on the seat.

This accounts for the interest many have shown in Mark’s reelection bid which is also responsible for the deep rivalry between Mark and Onoja.

The rivalry between these two sons of Idoma land dates back to the Abacha era and they have vehemently refused to bury the hatchet despite its attendant consequences on the socio-economic development of the Idoma kingdom.

It has indeed almost become a ritual for the duo to confront one another at every opportunity.

The duo were at it again at the last PDP primaries in Otukpo but it was Mark who coasted home after overwhelming Onoja by 1680 votes to  316 votes, cast by PDP delegates.

However at the end of the day Gen. Onoja lamented what he described as the intimidation and harassment of delegates and the state government’s influence to ensure that Senator Mark emerged victorious.

But not satisfied with the PDP primaries, Gen Onoja pulled out of the ruling PDP and headed for the opposition ACN where he secured the party’s nomination as its flag bearer for the Benue South Senatorial race.

Onoja’s ticket has become an issue of litigation at a Makurdi Federal High where some factional leaders of the party are asking the courts to nullify the candidature of all the 44 ACN candidates in the forthcoming general elections in Benue State.

That notwithstanding the race for the Benue South senatorial district is a clear cut fight between Mark and Onoja and both Generals are not leaving anything to chance.

Senator Mark has given everything to ensure that he emerges victorious at the forthcoming polls and it would not be out of place to state here that in the last few months the Senate President, through his reelection campaign organization has embarked on the most robust, aggressive and far reaching campaigns ever seen in the zone’s political history. General Onoja has struggled also in the same direction, albeit less optimistically.

For now, the prospect of Mark making it back to the Senate looks bright because he has a broad support base that includes all major stakeholders in the area.

Senator Mark seems to enjoy overwhelming support from his zone. His dominance of the politics of Benue south district was few months back boosted by his coronation as the ‘Okpokpowulu K’Idoma’  meaning (the Indomitable Lion of the Idoma Kingdom) by no other than the paramount ruler of the Idoma nation, HRH Elias Ikoyi Obekpa. This singular honour was indeed an affirmation of his leadership position in Idoma land.

The senatorial race in Benue South was until recently said to have been a done deal for Mark until the recent upsurge of support for the ACN. Besides Onoja, his legendary foe, Alhaji Abubakar Usman popularly known as Young Alhaji is also mustering support to confront Mark and the PDP establishment in the coming election.

Young Alhaji is now the deputy gubernatorial candidate of the ACN and is actively collaborating with Onoja to upturn the political apple cart in Benue South. The result of the election in Benue South would be observed from across the nation especially from senatorial contenders who have a sight on the seat of Senate President.