Nigerian Concord Newspaper
…The Guber Quest Of MKA Just, Equitable, Right On Time
Yesterday the G-83 Group of Kwande elders stormed Makurdi, the Benue State Capital City, to affirm the united stand of Kwande for the Governorship of the state in 2027.
The G-83 comprises foremost politicians from the Kwande intermediate area (Kwande and Ushongo local government areas) and their composition derives across party lines, not restricted to a single political party.
In 2023, the contention for the Governorship of Benue State was between the Kwande and Jechira intermediate areas.
Both areas marshalled their cases mainly on the premise of their previously truncated tenures – Aku’s in 1983, and Adasu’s in 1993, both cut short by the military.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which held power in the state at the time, opted to favour Jechira with its Guber ticket, the rationale being that their tenure (Adasu’s) lasted much shorter than that of Kwande (Aku’s).
The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) had towed the line of the PDP by giving its ticket to Jechira, wherefore the incumbent Governor Hyacinth Alia emerged to the seat.
However, the promise to Kwande by the leadership of the PDP was that the area would take their turn after Jechira took theirs.
2027, therefore, is the time for Kwande to take their turn, since zoning is never done twice in one place, but only once.
Those who argue that other areas – Jemgbagh, Sankera and MINDA – all did 8 years on the Governorship seat miss a vital point;
An area is entitled to an original 4 years on strength of zoning, while the additional 4 years which make it 8 comes on account of the ability of the incumbent to win it by a combination of PERFORMANCE and POLITICAL SAGACITY.
8 years is not automatic to any Governor.
Once his 4 years expire, the zone next in turn must make a bid to take their turn.
That is the rationale behind the Kwande Governorship bid in 2027.
It is a just bid, backed by the spirit of zoning.
The Governorship bid of Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, is, therefore, JUST, EQUITABLE & RIGHT ON TIME.