The campaign for the return of Senator David Mark in Saturday’s election got another boost on Sunday at the Otukpo township ward 2 when over 2000 youths converged at the instance of Senator Mark’s younger brother, Audu Mark.
Addressing the youths, the Director of Media and Publicity of David Mark campaign organisation, Chief Adakole Elijah said the Youths needed not be persuaded before they cast their votes for the “Okpokpowulu k’Idoma”.
According to him, “what the former Senate President is passing through today in the hands of the Tiv elites was as a result of his unrelenting efforts at ensuring that the Idoma and Igede people are not shortchanged at the federal level, just like we are facing crude marginalisation in Benue State.
“The Otobi dam that he attracted to Benue South would not only generate electricity for the entire state, but would also serve as a reliable source for portable water as well as offering employment opportunities to thousands of the youths, when completed.
“The Federal University of Health Sciences which Senator Mark also attracted to Benue South was the first of its kind in the whole of Africa. But the Tiv elites saw it as another means of empowering the Idoma and Igede Youths due to its employment opportunities and they sent an emissary to the President and he revoked it.
“What about the Loko-Oweto bridge that should have helped to cut journeys short by 2 hours if traveling from Abuja to any part of North East and Southern Nigeria? The Tiv elites through the collaborations of their Idoma lieutenants have stopped work on that bridge. The reason being that, the commercial activities in Tiv land would be grounded as Commuters would elect to ply the Agatu road instead of Makurdi”.
Cheif Adakole also added that the next election provided the Idoma people an opportunity to prove to the whole world that they were capable of fighting for themselves against the external forces.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Head Coach of Mark D Ball defending Champion, Experience, and younger brother to the the former Senate Present, Mr. Audu Mark said the role of the Youths in every electioneering process cannot be over emphasised.
He charged the Ward 2 voters to prove to Nigerians that they (the youths) had always been the determining factor of any electoral success and not the elders who would usually take the glory.
On her part, the first female House of Reps Member from Benue State, Hon. Mrs. Ada Mark Ogbole said the Idoma youths had no future with the current APC arrangement in the State.
Hon. Ogbole said aside the fact that Gov Ortom and Senator George Akume led a delegation to President Buhari to protest against the appointment of Cheif Audu Ogbe as Minister, the Tiv elites also made sure a large numbers of Idoma Youths were not admitted into the State University this session, even as the State government also hiked the school fees of only tertiary institution in Idoma land just to frustrate the hapless students.
Responding, the PDP chairman for ward 2, Hon. Ukwenya Ogbo, the ward 2 Coordinator, Hon. Abah Egli and Hon. Rose Ameh said the entire Otukpo township ward 2 was for Senator Mark and that no amount of cajoling and incitement would make them sell their conscience.
They also vowed to take the message to the nooks and cranies of Otukpo LG to ensure that the Okpokpowulu k’Idoma was returned at the Saturday poll.
Former Aides to Senator Mark who were in attendance, Hon. Francis Adakole Onmoke and Alhaji Musa Omale also took the floor for the sensitisation of the people ahead of the Saturday’s rerun election.
Comments