Tiv Youth Council: Opposition against Benue ministerial nominee a display of ignorance

The Tiv Youth Council Worldwide has condemned the allegation of marginalisation by the Coalition of Idoma Professional, a socio-cultural group, in Benue state.

The Idoma Professional, in a statement on Sunday, had opposed the nomination of Joseph Utsev as a ministerial nominee from the state, while also calling for the sack of George Akume, the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

Akume and Utsev are from the Tiv ethnic group in Benue state.

The coalition alleged that the Idoma ethnic group in the state had been sidelined in political appointments, both at federal and state levels, under President Bola Tinubu.

Reacting to the development on Monday, Mike Msuaan, president of
Tiv Youth Council Worldwide, said the allegation of marginalisation by the coalition is regrettable, pitiable and a display of ignorance of the workings of democracy.

“In 2007, David Mark was made senate president. In 2011, Abba Moro was appointed substantive minister of interior from the same Idoma extraction like Mark. The Tiv people witnessed the height of injustice,” Msuaan said.

“Democracy is a game of numbers and majority rule, meaning that the majority will always have their way in a democratic system, such as practiced in the country. The Tiv people are majority in the state and have proven so with their numerical voting strength.

“The Idoma Professional Coalition and their sponsors must know that the APC lost the presidential election woefully in their area and should not expect to be patronised by the APC government.

“What is disgusting and condemnable is the call for the sack of the SGF, George Akume. The Tiv Youth Council Worldwide takes exceptions to this most unfortunate call. We therefore demand retraction and an unreserved apology from Inalegwu Adaje with immediate effect.”

Msuaan, who was the director, Youth Mobilisation North Central Zone on the Tinubu-Shettima presidential council, challenged the coalition to publish the result of the presidential election in their area or shut up, saying the coalition should not expect to reap where it did not sow.