The speculation making the rounds in the past few weeks, is that of who is who in the proposed cabinet of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu as ministers.
In both his acceptance speech following his victory as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and his Inaugural speech of May 29 2023, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu made it clear to all Nigerians that the guiding principle of his administration would be equality, justice and fair play to all Nigerians wherever they may be found.
He practically demonstrated this rhetoric when he appointed the Service chiefs that represents all the geopolitical regions of the country.
In Benue State, there are two major ethnic group, The tivs and The Idoma. In the over two decades since the civil rule returned to Nigeria, there’s only in Federal Constituency, the Apa and the Agatu that has been Short-changed when it comes to Federal appointments, no Man or woman has ever been appointed even from the military regime as military Governor, or Minister.
This is not because there are no qualified people to occupy those positions.
Many political observers are of the opinion that it is a question of clear injustice and neglect been meted to the people.
The question that arises is whether the people on their own part have not articulated their plight loud and clear enough to the hearings of the authorities that has kept them in political limbo all these years.
In the last four years of the Buhari’s Government Senator Akume was deservedly appointed as Minister.
This time around equity and justice as espoused by president Tinubu, Idoma Nation deserves to be appointed as a minister in Tinubu’s Government. Indeed since all other Federal Constituencies within the Idoma land have either enjoyed executive positions in the recent past as Deputy Governor’s and Ministers, the position of a Minister in this Tinubu’s Government should be Macro-Zoned to the Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency to give this people a Sense of Belonging because they have been left in the Cold for too long.
On their own part, the people in this Constituency should not sit down and expect that manna would Fall from Heaven for them. One may wonder as cassius told in his fellow country man Brutus in Shakespeare play that the Fault is not in our stars, But in our selves that we are underlings, and whether that statement could also apply to the people in Agatu Federal Constituency of Benue State.
Have they done enough on their own part to put their case to the Front-runners that justifies the neglect in which the have find themselves all these of all years.
Let it be said that in Nigeria very few people are born with a Silver spoon in their mouths. Most Nigerians are born with shovel in their hands. Those who are fortunate enough to find themselves in position of authority should be sensitive enough that the are some people who also deserve the good things of life as the do.
Many political watchers are of the opinion that one of the problems confronting the people of this Constituencies is that of leadership. Fortunately for the people, a man like Amb Mohammed Abdulahi Mabdul who has spent so many years in the Villa until recently the Nigerian ambassador to Algeria and a Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is been talked about as one who would fill the leadership vacuum that has eluded the people for several decades.
Ambassador Mohammed Abdulahi Mabdul is a native of Aila in Agatu local Government.
In the run-up to the Governorship election in Benue state that brought Governor Hyacinth alia in to power, he was one of the those rumored as a possible candidate for the position of Deputy Governor. But when that did not come to pass, he vigorously Campaigned for the All Progressives Congress as he remains one of the most committed members of the party till this moment.
In the list that has been in speculation his name is one of the two names that was Nominated for the Ministerial appointment from Idoma land.
He meets all the criterial Envisioned by President Tinubu for that position. As a man who rose through the dint of hard-work to the position of a director In the ministry of Foreign affairs and also as a Director of protocol to a former Vice president For several years, He is a type of technocrat that president Tinubu is talking about.
The age is on his side he’s a seasoned diplomat and therefore deserving in the Position of Knowledge and Experience gathered in the past 35 years while serving as a Federal Officer.
Ambassador Mohammed is a serious minded person and stands shoulder high above some of the people Who’s names are being Speculated as possible candidate in Tinubu’s Incoming cabinet.
There is something that has been Mentioned earlier in this Conversation and that is the fact that the period we are in Nigeria is not like that which the Israeli’s Expected that manna would Fall from Heaven. One would not have a quarrel with people who are Fatalistic but God works through Human beings.
Moreover it is said in the Bible that if you seek you would find, and if you knock on the door it shall be opened onto you. Those who seek for the position of leadership should understand that to be recognized as a leader patient, perseverance, hard work, and tolerance should be the Hallmark of their conduct as the relate to their people.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Dr. Sen. George Akume did not Assume his present status overnight. Even as far basic as 1979 in his tenure as the Executive Gov of Benue State he sacrified his time and energy for the people.
He is generous with the Little things he possesses and believes that giving out takes away the grip of materialism in him.
This is why many Nigerians do not have Grievances against the man Akume for whatever positions he gets because he is seen as a selfless person and a man of the people.
After president Tinubu’s presidency, the next president could come from the North- central geo-political Zone of the country and that place could be in Benue State from among the TIV people as the Fourth Largest ethnic group in Nigeria after the Hausas, Igbos and Yoruba people.
The TIV people in Benue State should therefore go for a bigger file and not continue to struggle for unimaginable political positions with their Idoma counterparts because they would ultimately need their support on larger issues of the future like the presidency.
This is why the should concede the position of the Minister to the Idoma people this time around and the rest of the Idoma people should also Concede the ministerial slot to the Apa/Agatu axis that has never smelled any such positions in the past 24 years Since the return of democracy.
In pushing this position it goes without saying that qualified people are abound in all parts of the country and therefore not restricted to any particular ethnic group, political pressure group, influence peddlers and some other unwholesome connections. Those who know that they are incapable of carrying out the enormous tasks ahead to turn the country should be gracious enough to reject the appointment even when offered to them.
They could be compensated in the awards of contract and other packages from the Government in power and allow the other sections of the political groups who have not had the privilege to have a sense of belonging as their complains are becoming louder and louder that they have been left in the Cold for too long.
Usman Adams is a public affairs commentator who lives in Abuja.
