The OchetohaK’Idoma Youth Wing Worldwide has demanded a public apology from the Benue State Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Illegal Levies and Support Groups, Hon. Terver Gbenda, over what it described as threats and “reckless” remarks directed at Idoma youths during his recent outing in Otukpo.
The President of the organisation, Comrade Mike Magaji Alidu, made the demand in a statement issued on Thursday, expressing what he described as “deep pain, anger and total disappointment” over Gbenda’s alleged conduct.
Alidu said the organisation was particularly concerned that a political appointee of the state government travelled to Otukpo, in Benue South, to allegedly warn and threaten youths in an attempt to secure support for Governor Hyacinth Alia.
He described the alleged action as an insult to the people of Benue South, insisting that the senatorial district should not be treated as a territory where residents could be intimidated into supporting any political candidate or administration.
“Zone C is not a conquered territory,” Alidu said, adding that the Idoma people had the manpower, educational capacity and economic resources to determine their political choices.
The youth leader also criticised some local government chairmen and youths who, according to him, encouraged or supported Gbenda during his appearance in Otukpo.
He accused such individuals of placing political loyalty above the interests of their communities and warned that their actions could have political consequences.
Alidu further said the youth organisation considered statements by a governor’s appointee as reflecting the position of the state government and consequently held the Alia administration responsible for what he described as the alleged insult.
He gave Gbenda three days to issue an “unreserved public apology” to the people of Benue South.
According to the statement, failure to apologise would trigger a series of political activities by the organisation ahead of the next election cycle.
These, he said, would include consultations with opposition governorship aspirants, consideration of a preferred candidate, voter sensitisation across the nine local government areas of Benue South and mobilisation of members in the diaspora.
The organisation also threatened to campaign against political structures associated with Gbenda and his collaborators in the zone.
Alidu said the group would also highlight what it described as the “neglect” of Benue South by the state government, citing alleged deficiencies in roads, development projects and political appointments compared with other parts of the state.
He said the alleged incident in Otukpo had further heightened existing grievances over development and political representation in the zone.
The youth leader warned that the organisation would take what he called “the needful” if Gbenda failed to apologise, while announcing plans for a more detailed press conference on the matter.
