By Yemi Itodo

A nonpartisan political pressure group, Igede in 2023 Movement, has said that it's the turn of old Oju which compromised of the Igede speaking Local government areas of Oju and Obi to produce the next Senator of Benue South Senatorial District.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of a political summit recently held in Oju. The communique was signed by Hon. Amity Ijuwo, Chairman Communique Drafting Committee, James Igiri Odeh, Secretary, among others.

The group also reiterated its support to the emergence of Benue State Governor of Idoma extraction.

The communique entitled 'Communique of Igede Political Summit Organized By Igede In 2023 Movement On 27th November, 2021 At The Multipurpose Hall, College Of Education, Oju, Benue State' partly read:

"Worried by the dearth of socioeconomic and political development in Igede land, a thought it wise to organize a political summit with a view to broadening the scope of political participation and charting new paradigms ahead of 2023 general elections.

"The political summit in a brainstorming session that drew participants from various spectra of Igede society identified issues that have been militating against Igede socioeconomic and political development to include:

"Absence of Internal democracy within the Political Parties.

"Absence of justice , equity and fairness in political leadership recruitment process.

"Failure of Political Representatives who isolate themselves from the people they represent.

"General tendency towards selfishness, greed, avarice, envy and jealousy that polarize Igede people along the weak seams of parochialism

"Disregard for public interest or common good in preference to personal and some times sectional interest.

"Lack of strong point of convergence in Igede society.

"Poverty and economic disempowerment among members of Igede society, amongst many others.

"Lack of accountability from political office holders.

"Elite indifference and conspiracy.

"The summit, having identified, discussed and analyzed issues that caused backwardness ditto, resolved as follows:

"That the sharing of political offices both elective and appointive positions should rotate strictly among the three (3) old districts (Old Oju, Old Okpokwu and Old Otukpo) power blocs in Benue South Senatorial District.

"That the position of Senate for Benue South Senatorial District should rotate to Old Oju in 2023 in line with the spirit of equity, justice and fair-play.

"That We will fully support any candidate of Benue Zone C extraction who runs for the governorship of Benue State irrespective of party platform

"That We are determined to work together with the rest of Zone C to achieve common political goals in the zone and to seek collaboration with zones A and B in the State.

"That the zoning of political offices in Igede land shall be followed strictly to allow for the preponderance of the principles of equity, justice and fairness and to avoid unnecessary crisis.

"That consequent on the above, therefore, Political parties are encouraged to Zone the House of Representatives seat to Oju local government area in 2023.

"That we as Igede people are determined to retain and nurture our cultural and political identities in the country without losing focus of the larger picture of unity.

"That we will vehemently oppose, resist and prevent political gladiators from within and outside Igede land from selecting or imposing unpopular candidates on the Igede electorates thereby disrupting and disobeying our internal zoning arrangements.

"We hereby resolved that Igede sons and daughters will collaborate, cooperate and unite with each other so as to speak with one voice and take a common stand on issues that affect the overall interest of Igede nation irrespective of political affiliations."

Will Tiv people agree to relinquish power?

If not, the demands of the Igede people are in order.