Press Statement
Hundreds of thousands of youths in Benue South have converged on Otukpo, the traditional capital of Idoma nation to canvass support for the rerun election of former President of the Senate Senator David Mark.
The youths under the aegis of Idoma Dream and Idoma Young Professionals had met in Abuja to endorse Senator Mark before moving home to campaign and sensitize the people on the need to return the former Senate President.
Led by its National Co-ordinators; Maxwell Ogiri and Oche Odengs the youths listed various achievements of Senator Mark in the development of Benue South to include but not limited to roads and health projects, construction of the multi-Billion naira Oweto/Loko bridge, the facilitation of a Federal University in the zone, annual scholarship to students as well as the construction of the Multi-Billion naira Otobi water Dam to boost water and electricity among others.
They reasoned that Senator Mark has performed well and would do more if given more opportunity, arguing that Daniel Onjeh is a joker who cannot not be an option for Benue South.
According to them “Idoma cannot be enslaved. Why would Senator George Akume a Tiv man determine who represents Idoma people? Tivs are our brothers. This is not a battle between the Tivs and Idoma, but in this rerun election, let Idoma decide.
“It is better to stay with Senator Mark we know than to start something we don’t know.
“We do not want to mortgage our collective interest on the project that would obviously not represent Idoma interest. What is Daniel Onjeh’s pedigree in the Nigerian mix to represent a sophisticated and educated Benue South. Certainly not now”.
The Youths stated that the rerun election is not a battle for Senator Mark but for the survival of Idoma people.
According to them, for the fact that Onjeh is being sponsored by external forces against “the interest of our people is enough affront and insult on the sensibilities of our people. We have our pride, we cannot allow Onjeh to be the ready tool to undermine the interest of our people.”
Interestingly, leader of APC in Benue South Alhaji Abubakar Maishanu otherwise called Young Alhaji has been in the forefront for Senator Mark’s election.
Addressing members of Idoma dream at a Town Hall meeting in Otukpo today Young Alhaji said his support for Senator Mark was necessitated by his believe that the former Senate President is the only one for now that can promote and defend the interest of Benue South.
He therefore urged all Idoma sons and daughters to vote for Senator Mark as the choice of the Idoma people.
Signed:
Maxwell Ogiri
National Co-Ordinator of the Idoma Dreams
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