A group operating under the name Idoma Proactive Diaspora Coalition (IPDC) announced that it has brought Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia’s ongoing marginalization of the Idoma ethnic group to God’s attention.
The group stated that it has filed a complaint against the governor with the international community, citing his acts as ethnic persecution—a crime against humanity.
The group provided newsmen in Abuja with a statement outlining its stance, which was signed by Dr. Alechenu Amali, the group’s president.
According to the group, unless God or the international community steps in, they have given up.
According to the group, the Tiv ethnic group now holds all the positions that were previously reserved for the Idoma after Senator George Akume, the former governor, left office.
The group blasted the governor for treating the minority ethnic groups the worst he had ever treated them, even though the Idoma people of Benue South had given Alia a landslide of votes.
Regretfully, the Idoma people overwhelmingly voted for Fr. Alia in the belief that, in his capacity as a clergyman, he would be equitable to the minority; however, he has actually gotten worse.
He declared, “The Idoma people have now given up and can only cry out to the International Community or go back to God.”
The group alleges that Governor Alia has disadvantaged the Idoma people with regard to appointments and projects, as all significant appointments and projects—including rural roads awarded exclusively in Tiv territory—have gone to the Tiv ethnic group.
Dr. Amali revealed that the people holding high positions in the Benue State government, including the Secretary, Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, SSG, Commissioner of Works, Commissioner of Education, Commissioner of Health and Human Services, and Commissioner of Works, were all Tiv people.
In addition, he listed a number of lucrative positions held by Tiv people under the Alia administration, including those of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Local Government Service Commission, Benue State Urban Development Board, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Vice-Chancellor of Benue State University (BSU), Benue State Examination Board, Benue Links Nigerian Limited, and Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
The group also revealed that Governor Alia was actively pursuing the Idoma people’s ethnic persecution to reduce them to a minor or helpless minority in the state.
The group also clarified why Governor Alia removed Dr. Nathaniel Oche, a Tiv man, from his five-year position as Rector of the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, less than six months after he took office. In contrast, other Tiv people have already been appointed in substantive roles to state institutions where a Tiv man was dismissed, including Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Barki, who was appointed in an acting capacity.
Dr. Amali questioned the governor’s decision to keep a Tiv man serving as an acting rector when an Idoma man was fired after only six months in office. The governor, however, moved quickly to appoint a Tiv man to a substantive position when a Tiv man was fired.
The group concluded by pleading with Governor Alia to rid himself of any ethnic prejudice and partiality, arguing that in his capacity as a clergyman, he should treat everyone equally and not single out or marginalize anyone.