Igede Stakeholders In Benue Distance Selves From BRM Agitation

Stakeholders from Obi and Oju local government areas of Benue State have distanced themselves from the agitations for governorship by the Benue Rebirth Movement, (BRM) in the 2023 general elections.  

The Igede extraction who call themselves G-2  also demanded that the Benue South Senatorial seat be conceded to them in the spirit of fairness and equity.  

The political leaders, led by Hon Samson Okwu, House of Representatives member for Obi/Oju Federal Constituency stated this on  Wednesday when they paid a solidarity visit to Governor, Samuel Ortom in Makurdi, pledging their unconditional loyalty to the leadership of the Governor.  

According to them, they are not a party to the approach of the leaders of the Benue Rebirth Movement for the actualisation of an Idoma governor and will continue to stand with Governor Ortom to find a democratic solution to the governorship seat for the party in the next elections.  

"We are appealing to our brothers in Zone C to concede the position of Senate to Igede during the upcoming 2023 general election for equity and fairness."  

They also expressed appreciation to Ortom for the recognition he has given to the Igede nation in his administration, pointing out such areas as the creation of a first-class Chiefdom, appointments of Igede sons as Head of Service and Auditor General of the State as well as the restoration of peace in the Bonta and Ukpute-Ainu Ette border crisis.  

While calling on the Governor to sustain the security patrol of the area and demarcation of the borders, the stakeholders pleaded with the Governor to re-mobilise contractors back to the site for completion of the rehabilitation work on Awajir-Oju road as well as the construction of the Aliade-Mbakine- Obarike-Ito roads.  

Governor Ortom in his response thanked the stakeholders for the visit which he noted was an encouragement to sustain efforts at turning around the fortunes of the area.  

The Governor commended the resilience of the Igede people despite the prevailing challenges, stressing that he was happy for the support they gave him toward resolving the Bonta-Okpute crises.  

Governor Ortom encouraged the Igede stakeholders and people of the State generally to remain united, cautioning that actions and utterances to disunite the people along ethnic lines will not be in the best interest of the State's progress and development.  

He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that all parts of the State are given equal opportunities to participate in leading the State irrespective of ethnic background.