Ministerial slot: Benue Zone ‘C’ APC elders forum hails Tinubu’s choice of Utsev

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

Chairman of the Benue Zone ‘C’ APC Elders Forum, Bishop Pinot Ogbaji, has commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu on his choice of Prof Joseph Utsev, as a Minister designate.
According to the group, President Tinubu made the right choice by nominating Prof Utsev for ministerial appointment, saying he has the capacity to deliver.
The Elders from Benue South Senatorial District, said the briefing was against call by some persons in the State, rejecting the nomination of Utsev.
“We called this press conference in response to an address by some elders from the zone, who addressed a press conference here in Abuja, rejecting the ministerial nominee from the State on the basis of tribal sentiment” Bishop Ogbaji said.
The Forum while addressing the press, said it wouldn’t have bothered to respond to such “unfounded criticism”, but because it was already affecting the unity of the State where young people of Tiv and Idoma/Igede extractions are being engaged in social media war.
Bishop Ogbaji wondered why people who are not bonafide members of the APC will be taking about Tinubu’s choice of a Minister from Benue.
“It is unethical for people who are not members of the APC to meddle into the internal affairs of the party, and also be the ones sharing the benefit of our electoral victory.
“It is disgusting for people who used religion, ethnicity and age to campaign against our party to be the ones crying for marginalisation.
“They are trying to malign the person of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to discredit our reverred Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, when Chief Audu Ogbeh, Monday Morgan, Lawrence Onoja, Godday Samuel Adagboyi, Johnson Inalegwu Agada, Emmanuel Ameh and Morgan Okwoche insisted that, the President must rescind his nomination of Prof Joseph Tsev because he is a Tiv man” the group said.
Bishop Ogbaji, submitted that it was unhealthy to instigate the Idoma/Igede people against their Tiv brothers after a failed coup to swindle the entire zone, as according to him, “the same people had signed a letter purportedly endorsing a ministerial nominee from the zone without consultation with the party and major stakeholders”.
“These few elders had forged documents claiming Benue South APC, endorsed Godday Samuel Adagboyi, who was the only House of Representatives
candidate to loose his election to the opposition PDP in Benue State due to his involvement in the Obidient Movement.
“The letter was signed by Chief Audu Ogbeh, Maj. Gen. Lawrence Anebi Onoja rtd, John Ochoga and two others,” Bishop Ogbaji said.