By Eric Adama Adokwu
As a minority, the Idoma people have had a long-standing upheaval in keeping political steam in our nationhood right from the earliest period of electoral participation dating to the pre-independence era. Our political astuteness as people is not in question. This fact was replicated in the early dividends that we garnered even in the first republic. As a people, our right to self-determination in a ferocious federal entity has never been in doubt. That is why at every political defining moment, we have been extremely resolute in choosing leaders for ourselves. We have never abdicated that onerous duty of choosing our leaders to outside influence peddlers or their internal agents. In all of the great political seasons, from the first to the fourth republic, our hallmark have always been in the deployment of our minor status to choose outstanding leaders to pursue our collective political agenda.
At no time has this device worked for us than the fourth republic, where our son and indefatigable leaders, Senator David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark assailed the turbulent waters of Nigeria’s high stake politicking to become the longest serving President of the Senate of both the 6th and the 7th National Assembly. That he equally accessed unprecedented opportunities at institutional and infrastructural advantages for our people is a stack reality present in all of the Idoma political space.
Now, following the very shocking and ravaging judgment of the court of appeal sitting in Makurdi that reversed our collective decision in belief of the leadership of Senator David Mark, we owe ourselves the moral duty and socio-political tenacity to show the world that no amount of allied connivances can change the will of a determined people.
We believe that the grinding temperament to oust Senator David Mark is purely born out of the fact that his sterling achievements have become the standard with constituents in the two other senatorial districts of Benue State measure the achievements of their senators. Our choice in the clear elections of 28th March, 2015 was Senator Mark. It will remain Senator Mark at the rescheduled election.
Let me use this forum to assert that there is no gain saying the achievements of Senator David Mark to the Idoma people because his feats are well documented. At no time in the history of our people have we conceded the privileged and sacred rights of choosing our leaders to others. Those who make themselves manifest tools for external manipulations against the will of our people shall be surely hounded down if not by posterity, then certainly by history.
Let me use this golden opportunity to appeal to all Idoma sons and daughters that the forthcoming senatorial election is a choice between our political setback and our strength of characters in political choice making . We must choose the latter. I honestly and humbly implore all to support Senator David Mark as our choice in the forthcoming election as a solid sign of our capacity to resist outside influences. Our determination as a people must be strengthened by that eventual and sure decision.
For if we fail to do the needful, the needful will accentuate our doom. Therefore a vote for Senator Mark is a vote for the furtherance of our Idomaness. Let us continue to brighten the star that strengthens our collective resolve as a people. Thank you. May God bless Idoma Kingdom, May God bless Nigeria.
Arc. Eric Adama Adokwu, MNIA is the Obobowu K’ Ohimini
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