The Idoma/Igede All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Forum of Benue state has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider the young people from the zone for ministerial positions and not the elders.
Its Convener, Okpokwu Ogenyi, while addressing a press conference on Monday in Abuja, wondered why the elders that abandoned the campaign prior to the elections were now complaining about political appointments.
He stressed that the youths from the zone find it necessary to address issues raised recently at a press conference by some older persons of the Idoma/Igede extraction towards political appointments by the President.
The Convener explained that Benue State consists of three Senatorial zones with the Tiv’s occupying two while the Idoma/Igede people dominated one zone.
He said just like the North East and South East geo-political zones which have never produced Nigeria President, Benue South Senatorial District was yet to produce a Governor in the State since its creation.
However, Okpokwu added that the zone had produced two Senate Presidents, Ministers and Head of agencies of government.
His words: “We read with great dismay, the press conference by some Idoma/Igede older persons most of whom are not of the APC stock, people who never campaigned for the party, some were even seen campaigning for other political parties and made statements on national television against the APC and voted against Presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Okpokwu pointed out that their action was considered a blackmail against the President and a quest to deprive the young Idoma/Igede people who worked tirelessly for the votes we gathered during the last elections.
He stated: “The elders abandoned the campaign completely, most of them voted against the APC during the elections and they are now the ones complaining about appointment.
“This is the reason why we preached synergy during the elections and the need to work wholeheartedly for the APC.”
While passing a vote of confidence on the President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, the group appealed that “the younger Idoma/Igede people who have worked for the party should be considered for federal appointments as we are ably qualified for all available positions.”