President Bola Tinubu, who clocks 60 days in office on Thursday submitted his ministerial list to the National Assembly through his Chief of Staff Rt.Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila which is in line with the constitutional requirement. It was shocking news to the people of Benue State most particularly the politicians to see the name of Prof Engr Joseph Utsev who was the acting Provost of Federal Polythenic Wannune on the list which is strictly the power of the SGF Sen. George Akume.
Research has shown that during the second republic, JS Tarka was given two slots, Senate and House of Representatives seats, he shared it with is his son late Hon Mbakorkaa Samuel Tarka. Federal presence in Benue State right of Mbakor and Jemgbagh people only? Shall we continue like this? It's time for a positive change. Our Zone A political leaders, this is painful.
Reality is that during former President Buhari's first tenure as the President of Nigeria, Chief Audu Ogbe was appointed the minister from Zone C of Benue State. The second tenure of former President Buhari's administration, Sen. George Akume was given the minister which gave him the title GSM and now SGF from Zone B of Benue State.
However, in the present government of His Excellency Bola Tinubu the ministerial slot is supposed to go to Zone A. The Zone A people of Benue State canvassed and voted massively for all APC candidates during the recently 2023 general elections hoping of grabing their ministerial slot but the Jemgbagh Foundation did not allow it come to reality. The Jemgbagh Foundation is a lesson for the rest of the Tiv Nation.
When the four friends; William Mozeh, George Akume, Iorchia Ayu and Baver Dzeremo started the Jemgbagh Foundation in late 1999, many thought it may fizzle out after the tenure of George Akume as Governor of Benue State. However, many years after the tenure and amid the cracks occasioned by death, incapacitation and personal interests among these principal four, the dreams of the group remain much alive and thriving to the consternation of the other parts of the Tiv nation.
While the Jechira, Sankera, Kwande and Minda struggles with identity issues, the Jemgbagh Foundation remains a lesson to all.
In Jechira, the rising political tensions of unbridled sectional sentiments among the lines of Kunav, Gaav and Shangev-Tiev has its negative telling effects on the most sophisticated and economically minded block in Tiv land. The fact that these sections are more comfortable in their sectional enclaves and identity as either; Kunav, Gaav or Shangev-Tiev than promoting the "JECHIRA" name as a "Foundation" has widened the gap and festered disunity among brothers unlike the Jemgbagh Foundation.
In Sankera, the armed militia rivalry between Shitile and Ukum has not only destroyed the economy of the most agrarian section of the Tiv nation but has also unfortunately emboldened the sectional lines of; Shitile, Ukum, Ikyurav, Tonguv and Ugondu making it impossible for a "SANKERA Foundation" or Sankera Development Association (SADA) to thrive like the Jemgbagh Foundation.
In Minda; the Ihyarev, Masev and Nonguv with the largest farm lands in Tiv nation known for cereals and cash crops; has been robbed of economic benefits even when they held the post of the Governor of Benue State for Eight years by sectional bigotry and disunity!!! Very sadly, this disunity has led to the comatose "MINDA Foundation" and has prevented them from giving a unified attention to the Fulani Herdsmen invasion and plundering of their land. Here too the Jemgbagh Foundation is a potent lesson!!
In Kwande, the Nanev, Shangev-Ya, Ikyurav, Turan and Ukan remains a helpless situation of disunity in the most educated block in Tiv land and the ancestral home of the Tiv nation. The Kwande Progressive Union (KWUPPO) has been largely reduced to a political pressure group without any verifiable development agenda unlike the Jemgbagh Foundation!!
If unity has eroded the Tiv people as a nation, let us at least, reorganize at the intermediate areas where the Jemgbagh Foundation has remained potent lesson to the rest of the Tiv nation. Senator George Akume who is the highest political name of the Jemgbagh Foundation is not without his portion of disloyalty, betrayals and disappointment from his kith and kin which may make him sad at times but has never deterred him from empowering his people.
What has marked Sen George Akume out as the most popular politician in Tiv land and Benue at large is his humble, people centred, large-heartedness and forgiving spirit. May all leaders of the other sections of Tiv land, imbibe the lessons from the development of the Jemgbagh people.
Recall that Sen. George Akume's two terms as Government of Benue State sent the name of the former Senate President Dr Iorchia Ayu to former President Obasanjo and Ayu was appointed minister twice which was the instrumentality of Jemgbagh Foundation.
Additionally, the presence of Federal Government is now seen only in Zone B of Benue State and Jemgbagh in particular. Sen. Akume as SGF and Prof Engr Joseph Utsev as minister will be in Federal Executive Council. How can one Senatorial zone of a State and one section occupy top positions when it's the turn of Zone A. It's a cheating of the highest order!!!! The people of Benue North-East also known as Zone A are cheated.
Finally, I wish to sincerely appeal to Governor of Benue State His Excellency Dr. Hyacinth Iormen Alia to call on political heavyweights of Jechira Nation to ensure unity and sincerity of purpose so that they will help him deliver on his campaign messages and most importantly bring development to Jechira Nation.
Comrade Achir James,
President Jechira Youths Council
(JYC),
28-7-2023
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