…a call for justice, inclusive governance and equal belonging in Benue State
The Idoma people increasingly perceive themselves as politically and socioeconomically marginalised in Benue State. Their concerns span infrastructure, educational opportunities, institutional leadership, public appointments and security. The pattern raises an urgent question: are all communities still regarded as equal partners in the Benue project?
A widening crisis of belonging
The sense of exclusion among many Idoma people has become particularly pronounced under the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia. The concern is not based on a single appointment, project or political disagreement. Rather, it reflects a cumulative perception that public opportunities and government attention are increasingly skewed towards Tiv-speaking areas, while Idoma communities are left with what many regard as symbolic gestures of inclusion.
The disappointment is particularly profound because some Idoma people, partly because of their shared Catholic faith with Governor Alia, expected his administration to rise above ethnic politics. They hoped that a priest in public office would bring to governance the Christian principles of justice, compassion and fairness.
The emerging perception, however, is troubling: that the administration has not demonstrated the equitable treatment expected by citizens across the state.
Beyond infrastructure, recent appointments to public committees and institutions have intensified concerns about representation. Government appointments do more than reward individuals; they communicate who belongs, whose competence is recognised and whose aspirations matter. When appointments are perceived to favour one section of the state repeatedly, they can undermine the principle of collective ownership and weaken confidence in government neutrality.
Education, merit and institutional leadership
The perception of marginalisation also extends to education. Increasingly, concerns are being raised about the representation of students of Idoma extraction in highly competitive programmes such as Medicine, Law and Engineering in Benue State-owned institutions.
This is particularly troubling because Idoma students were historically well represented in these disciplines across federal institutions before the establishment and expansion of state-owned institutions. If their representation has declined significantly, it raises legitimate questions about the fairness, transparency and inclusiveness of current admission processes.
These concerns should be tested with evidence: disaggregated admission data, clearly published selection criteria and independent scrutiny.
If admissions are based strictly on merit and clearly established equity rules, the evidence should reassure the public. If the data reveal systematic disparities, corrective measures should follow. No young person should be disadvantaged academically because of ethnicity or because an institution is owned by the state in which that person was born.
Concerns about representation also extend to institutions located in Idoma land. The pattern of appointments has created a perception that Tiv individuals are increasingly being favoured for leadership or strategically influential positions in some of these institutions.
There would be little objection to such appointments if they were demonstrably based on academic distinction, professional competence and transparent selection. The concern arises when political influence or ethnic considerations are perceived to outweigh merit.
Leadership founded on competence deserves respect. Any perceived dominance sustained by political influence rather than merit deserves scrutiny.
Infrastructure and unequal development
The disparity is perhaps most visible in road infrastructure. While major and strategically significant road projects are reportedly being undertaken in Tiv-speaking areas, many communities in Idoma land appear to receive comparatively modest access roads and narrow internal routes that do not address their wider developmental needs.
Roads are not merely physical structures. They determine access to markets, hospitals, schools, investment and economic opportunity. A persistent imbalance in their distribution therefore produces not only material inequality but also political resentment.
Balanced development does not mean identical projects in every community. It means transparent criteria, proportional investment and a credible explanation of how needs are prioritised.
The government should publish the locations, costs, scope and expected beneficiaries of major projects. Such transparency would allow citizens to judge whether development is genuinely equitable.
Until then, the contrast between major projects in Tiv areas and what many Idoma communities regard as little more than alleyways will continue to deepen the feeling that they are not treated as equal stakeholders in Benue State.
Security requires more than ceremonial sympathy
The security situation presents an equally distressing dimension. Recent killings in parts of Idoma land have generated concerns that official responses have often amounted to condemnation and expressions of sympathy without a corresponding level of urgency and sustained action.
At moments of tragedy, leadership must communicate not only administrative concern but also a genuine sense of solidarity with affected citizens.
The Idoma people require more than ceremonial condolences. They deserve decisive security measures, prompt and transparent investigations, support for bereaved and displaced families, sustained engagement with affected communities and demonstrable action to prevent further attacks.
Every life in Benue State should command the same governmental urgency, regardless of the victim’s ethnicity or location.
The renewed case for Apa State
Unless governance becomes visibly fair and proportionate, accumulated grievances will continue to strengthen the longstanding aspiration for Apa State — a political arrangement in which many Idoma people believe their representation, security and development could be better guaranteed.
The demand is not sustained by rhetoric alone. It is nourished whenever citizens conclude that existing structures cannot adequately protect their dignity or accommodate their legitimate aspirations.
Paradoxically, Governor Alia may ultimately be credited by history with helping to renew momentum behind this cause. Had his administration convincingly demonstrated that Idoma people were equal partners in the Benue project, the agitation might have weakened.
Instead, perceptions of exclusion, unequal development and inadequate representation have transformed what was once a subdued aspiration into an increasingly urgent collective demand.
Whether and when Apa State becomes a reality remains a constitutional and political question. But there is little doubt that perceptions of marginalisation can strengthen the argument for political autonomy.
A message to the people of Idoma land
To the people of Idoma land, the lesson is sobering: religious identity is not a guarantee of justice in Nigerian politics.
READ ALSO: Benue PDP Blasts Alia’s Thank-You Tour, Demands Account Of N1.2tn State Funds
Clerical titles, invocations of God and public displays of faith should not be substitutes for accountable and equitable governance. Political leaders must ultimately be judged by their actions, policies and treatment of every community — not by their religious affiliation, clerical status or professions of faith.
In the coming election cycle, voters should prioritise competence, fairness, accountability and respect for all communities. A candidate’s religious identity should not outweigh the measurable consequences of his or her leadership.
Governor Alia, like every elected leader, should therefore be evaluated by the record of his administration: the distribution of development, the inclusiveness of appointments, the fairness of public institutions and the protection of human life.
This is ultimately a demand for justice, not hostility towards any ethnic group.
The Tiv and Idoma peoples share history, institutions, relationships and a common state. Durable peace will not emerge from domination, resentment or collective blame. It will come from transparent governance, equal citizenship and a deliberate commitment to ensuring that no community is treated as an afterthought.
A word is enough for the wise.
Dr Paul Ede Agbo | agbopaul1094@gmail.com
Editorial note: This article represents the author’s political perspective. Claims concerning admissions, appointments, infrastructure and official responses should be assessed against publicly available records, disaggregated data and transparent government reporting.