PDP AND THE NEED TO GET IT RIGHT, BENUE SOUTH IN FOCUS.
One thing that got anybody who had confined the PDP to the dust bin of history after the 2015 elections to have a second look at the party, aside the dismal performance of the ruling APC thus far, was the fact that the current National Chairman of the party Chief Uche Secondus, openly apologized to the Nigerian people on behalf of the party and promised they will manage well going forward as well as the resilience of some shiny stars in the PDP who remained put in the party even in the face of mass defections to the APC , humiliation and promises of juicy appointments. They inspired a lot of people.
A particular area the PDP made a very costly mistake prior to the 2015 elections was not putting its best foot forward many districts and constituencies around the country, the party allowed money, imposition and undue advantage decided who became candidates of the party for various elective offices across the country. They paid a huge price consequently.
Benue Zone C is largely the Idoma speaking area of the state and a minority in population and control of the state next to the tiv ethnic group which have produced the governors of the state consistently since 1999 and in some cases the Ministers from the state. With this reality, the most senior politician that will be coming out of Idoma land would be the Senator from Benue South senatorial district and that must be somebody who will be going to Abuja to "WORK" and make the difference and not one who had been around the corridors of power before and feel like he is in the Senate for retirement or make the numbers. The Senator representing Benue south must see himself as carrying a huge burden and must be one who takes the call seriously. That individual must be super active and experienced in legislative processes and procedures and be prepared to serve the people.
Distinguished Senator David Mark has been the Senator representing Benue south since 1999 and has declared his interest to move onto a higher endeavor. He was Senate president for a while. He was influential and represents a particular generation of Nigerians including some of those aspiring to take over from him at the senate currently.
The PDP must be reminded of the fact that the primaries of the party does not send an aspirant to the Senate directly, there is the secondary election awaiting them that will be contested with the ruling APC, which certainly will approach the election with all of the advantages due or undue at their disposal to ensure they take the seat from the PDP.
The PDP and the people of Benue south can't afford to allow money or otherwise influence their primaries and produce an unpopular candidate that will provide the grounds for the opposition to take advantage of and hard do the PDP.
Before anything else, the opposition is very interested in who becomes the PDP candidate and it is upon the outcome they will strategize on how to come to the party on election day.
The PDP does not have the luxury of making any mistakes in electing its candidate for the 2019 senatorial election for benue south senatorial district.
Comrade Abba Moro is interested, a very qualified individual who has done quite well for the people of the zone in the area of job creation especially in the para military through his overseeing the Interior Ministry under the GEJ led government. He should be a very good candidate for the job but unfortunately, Abba will be a hard sell. He is quite tainted and could be a subject of several litigations that will eventually make the PDP lose out. Comrade Abba Moro has too many pending cases that do not appear to be going away any soon. He may find a hard time concentrating on he job. He is also an old abuja "big boy" and may go back to abuja through the people's mandate to face private concerns and relegate the people to the background. Chief Abba is obviously not the right man at the moment.
Chief Mike Okibe Onoja is interested too. Even his greatest enemy will advice you not to joke around with his CV and accomplishments. He has done great things for himself, his country and Benue Zone C. A retired permanently secretary at the ministry of defence and a recipient of many awards including the Commander of the Order of the Niger CON. Chief Okibe is from Agila Benue South. The Idoma Voice described him as a gentle giant, a man of few words and his words are his bond. and went on to say he "retired" many years ago to his home town. At 70 years of age with all of his accomplishments, that has put him up there as an Idol and inspiration for the young generations coming up. sending him to the Nigeria Senate appears to be like a set up. Am not sure anybody reading this will encourage his or her own parent who has done so well all of these years to start a fresh very tasking journey of life at the Senate. I don't think so. That brings to mind the very important question of "Leadership Nursery " Chief Onaja should have groomed a lot of younger individuals who should be seeking for the seat in Abuja and not him at this age and time. The Idoma race cannot afford to be left behind in the generational change taking place in the entire globe. Benue south must move with the rest of the world. The job of a Senator is very very demanding and requires real energy, vigour and vitality. In addition to a granular knowledge of parliamentary procedures. Chief Mike Okibe must be assisted to protect his legacies. He should stay back at home and be the elder states man God has so endowed him to be.
Rt Hon. Joseph Ojobo is interested and aspiring. A two term parliamentarian in the Benue States House of Assembly. A very committed party man. Brilliant and admired by a whole lot of the idoma folks for his unbelievably grass root belief and approach to politics. If its not about the people, then you are sure not to find "Joe" as he is fondly called around any discussions. Hon Ojobo is an active member of the assembly in Benue and loved by all of his colleagues for his work ethics and ability to mange relationships in the house. He is quite a breath of a refreshing air in the contest for the candidacy of the Senator representing Benue South.
Hon Ojobo is definitely not going to Abuja to learn on the job. It will only be a call for a higher responsibility in his area of expertise. Considering his age which of course is the last advantage after his abilities and accomplishments, he will be a darling of the senate and would have his colleagues want to help him succeed and make a name for himself. His humility and brilliance will make him bring a lot back home from the senate. Hon Joe Ojobo is granular.
When we look at Comrade Moro, Chief Onoja and Hon Ojobo, it is quite obvious that the future of Benue south is brighter with Ojobo. Who says we can't start preparing a young man for bigger responsibilities from now if he is sent to the Senate? Benue south may just be having a Vice President of the nation, Senate president or deputy or even the President of the federal republic of Nigeria someday and we won't be expecting that to come from two retired elder states men.
The PDP must create a level playing field for the primaries and devoid it of any kind of malpractices especially monetising the process and giving any aspirant an undue advantage over the others. I also call on the delegates to look beyond whatever financial gains they are promised and focus rather on the bigger picture. The future of their children.
God Bless Benue Zone C.