Hon Wayo Writes President Buhari | ''I really wonder what must have informed your choice of Chief Audu Ogbe for the Ministerial slot from Benue state''-Hon Benjamin Wayo( Kwande/Ushongo Fed.Constitueny}.

His Excellency,
Mohammadu Buhari,
President and Commander-In-Chief,
Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Aso Rock,
Abuja.

Your Excellency,

1. RE: MINISTERIAL LIST

2. CONSPICUOUS ABSENCE OF A TIV MAN/WOMAN

I write to congratulate you for the giant and popular strides you have achieved so far, in office as the President and Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Nipping corruption in the bud is the best thing that can happen to this country.

The steps your Excellency have taken so far, to rescue Nigeria must be commended, for unless corruption is sincerely fought headlong and frontally there can be no real change as desired by Nigerians. Your public transparency, integrity and clear stand against corruption remain the prime consideration we yearn for, and voted your victory at the polls.

It is pertinent to state that, to continue with your rescue mission steadfastly and steadily without wavering, traversing and distracted, your appointments must be credible, un-bias, fair and just; preventing a situation where ‘monkey de work bamboo de chop’

Your Excellency Sir, let me bring to your notice and attention that TIV remain the fourth largest single dialect ethnic nation in Nigeria, cut across Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Plateau states. And the fact is that, at all material times, relevant to your ambition, the TIV people gave you more support and votes, than any other tribe or group of people within these areas/states. And I say this without fear of being contradicted.

Mr. President, even at the March 28, 2015 polls which you won in Benue State, it was my people (TIV) that made it possible, with their numbers in votes and resources. Over 95.5 percent of your votes in Benue state were from Tiv people (Area). And this was deliberately done irrespective of religious and party differences.

It took a lot of pains, resources, sacrifices and good will of our people in sustaining campaigns to convince the people that you should be voted into power. The leaders of our great party, the All Progressives Congress,(APC) in Benue state led by Distinguished Senator George Akume, left no stone unturned, Senator Engr. Barnabas Gemade was very relentless, Prof. Stave Torkuma Ugbah, the ACN Gubernatorial standard bearer and symbol of change in 2011 general elections was marvellous, Barrister Joe Abaagu, a former Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Benue State 2001-2007, was fantastic, especially as he initially coordinated your presidential campaign in Benue state at the primary level, Barrister Targema Takema, the present Secretary to the Benue State Government, Hon. Orker Jev, Hon. Iorwase Hembe, Hon. John Dyegh, Hon. Dickson Tarkighir, Hon. Mark Gbila, Hon. Simon Abua, Hon. Sekav Iortyom, Hon. Nick Wende, Hon. Chille Igbawua, Hon. Emmanuel Jime, Barr. (Mrs) Rhoda Ako, a former Deputy Controller-General of Customs Service, Myself and many others worked wonderfully hard.

I went to the nooks and crannies of my constituency (Kwande/Ushongo) in the interior, even where people who contested for Local Government Councillorship election never went to, I visited, Campaigning and preaching Buharism. We stressed the need of our people voting you as our president.

Your Excellency may therefore see, and if need be agree with me that, the feats and successes achieved in Benue state were so as a result of deliberate and painstaking efforts, unalloyed support and unwavering commitment of the leaders of Benue politics especially in TIV Area.

As a matter of fact, the leader of Benue politics, Distinguished Senator George Akume, and Senator Engr. Barnabas Gemade had night Virgil at the INEC state headquarters in Makurdi, in ensuring that your victory in Benue state was neither stolen nor mutilated.

Your Excellency, it is against this background, and as a well informed participant that, I really wonder what must have informed your choice of Chief Audu Ogbe for the Ministerial slot from Benue state. It is unbelievable that Your Excellency may decide neglecting the people who fought tooth and nail, to ensure your victory in Benue state.

Sir, I am not against the person of Chief Audu Ogbe, there is no doubt, he is a person of unquestionable character, his reputation and stands on corruption makes him amiable to many people, including me. Such an orator he is, but there are many Sons and daughters of TIV nation too, that have such wonderful qualities, if not beyond these.

At this point (juncture), Mr. President, it becomes difficult what explanation we have to give to our constituents whom we preached to, and made promises that you will be fair and just in treating the TIV nation when elected in power as president of Nigeria. Our people will feel bastardized, ostracized or made empty in Nigeria.

Your Excellency Sir, since your resumption of office, you have made several key appointments, without considering any Tiv man for any of such key positions. Should we consider that loyalty, support and votes do not matter again?

In my opinion, Mr. President, it is too early however, to make us start thinking that we were not properly guided. Honestly, Your Excellency, one is confused, for if the past regime of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP led by President Goodluck Jonathan, rewarded the Idoma people for their votes, by ensuring that their son, Senator David Mark remained Senate President and yet another one, comrade Abba Moro as Minister of Interior, what then can one say is our reward for voting you? Is the Tiv situation typical of the adage which says that, ‘one man dances and is rewarded and yet another dances and is beaten?

Whatever is Your Excellency’s consideration, we deserve a better deal in your Government. Let whatever that is good, whatever that is pure, whatever that is honest, whatever that is of adequate reward, think about us.

It is for the forgoing that, I urge you to kindly have a re-think, on this issue.

Thank you Sir.

Yours sincerely,

Barrister Benjamin I. Wayo
Honourable Member Representing Kwande/Ushongo
Federal Constituency, Benue State.