By Peter Duru

MAKURDI — Benue women, under the aegis of the Southern Women in Action Group, SWAG, has called for power shift to the Idoma-speaking area of the state in the forthcoming governorship election in the interest of fair play and justice.

National President of the group, Mrs. Ene Ibenu, who made the call at a briefing in Makurdi, the state capital, said the demand was premised on the principle of rotation and equity.
According to her, “what we are saying is that since the creation of Benue State some 38 years ago, nobody of Idoma extraction has assumed the leadership of the state as governor.

“If you are conversant with the history of this state, you certainly know that two senatorial zones which are Benue North East and West have produced governors.
“For clarity, late Governor Ape Aku was from the North-East, same with Rev. Fr. Moses Adasu; after them, we had Senator George Akume from the North-West, and currently, we have Governor Gabriel Suswam, who is also from the North-East.

“Today, we are talking of the 2015 elections and the people of Benue North-West, where the immediate past governor of the state, Senator George Akume comes from, are agitating to produce the next governor.

“In this agitation, nobody is talking of the Benue South senatorial zone. Our Tiv brothers believe that because they are in the majority,  it is therefore their birth right to govern the state. They regard the Idoma as second class citizens who do not deserve to assume leadership position in the state.”