Comrade Daniel Onjeh is the Benue South Senatorial candidate under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general elections and contested against former Senate President, David Mark. He is also a political activist, a social democrat by orientation and a one time National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Onjeh, also a former President of the West African Students Union (WASU), spoke to Time Nigeria Magazine team on his political odyssey to claim his mandate.
What has the present senator representing your senatorial district, David Mark, left undone in terms of giving quality representation to the people?
If you take a drive through the North-Eastern road of Otukpo- Ogbulafor-Enugu you will see for yourself. This is not exaggeration; go to Agatu Local Government, children within the age of one and nine years old that are not fortunate to have travelled outside of their immediate environs do not know what a switch is to on a bulb. For these people when vehicles pass there it is a new invention because there are no motorable roads. That is to tell you the level of backwardness in Benue South.
Having being a one-time number three man of the nation, I know it is just a documentary issue, in the literal sense, Senator David Mark was practically the number two man in the country. After Jonathan, it’s David Mark. With the influence he wielded and the opportunities he had that were at his beck and call, he did nothing to show that he was representing the Benue South people.
Federal constituency projects meant for the zone were duly allocated but not executed, his influence did not ensure they were carried out as captured by the budget.
For instance Otukpo Cultural Centre which was earmarked for N90 million, even though a very unbefitting structure was raised, it was personalised and called the Ayum Memorial Centre. I understand that Ayum is Mark’s mother’s name meaning that other non-PDP members are excluded from the usage of the centre, and also other non-supporters of David Mark are also excluded. It was only recently that it was revealed to the Idoma people that the cultural centre is a collective heritage of the Idoma People and not a personal property of Senator David Mark.
Senator David Mark
Also in Opkoku, N300million was earmarked for Youth Development Centre but what happened? As I speak with you there is no structure in whatever measure that is raised but it was registered that the project has been carried out. All these happened under the watchful eyes of David Mark. Since the governmental structure extends the role of a legislature to carrying out oversight functions on these issues to ensure that the dividends of democracy from the central government trickles down to the constituency his failure to do such is a clear indication of his culpability in the conspiracy against the people of Benue South.
Our decision to ask David Mark questions is non-negotiable. No Jupiter on earth can stop us. We must ask him questions and also take over the leadership of the Benue South Senatorial District and initiate a proper probe. He must give account of his leadership to the people.
It is said that your determination to contest the result of the election in the tribunal is hinged on the failure to use INEC card reader?
We never said card reader was not used, card reader was used and the records are there. We got the card reader information from INEC. It is my opponent Senator David Mark who is disillusioned and assuming card readers did not work and as such card reader should not be used. Even in his own polling unit, card reader was used. Our case is on wide spread electoral irregularities and malpractices.
Comrade Daniel Onjeh
What has been your contribution to the people of Benue South Senatorial District?
What I have been able to do is to represent them adequately and sufficiently. In all areas I have been given the mandate, I make them proud and I did them proud. Why? Because, it was a mass based organization that I headed and a revolutionary organisation for that matter, NANS. The question now is did you compromise? No! Go and ask President Olusegun Obasanjo and he will tell you that I did not. Leadership is a call to selflessness and a call to patriotism.
Since the inception of this administration can it be said that Nigeria is on course to socio-political and economic development?
The answer is in the affirmative yes! I have always maintained that the character of a leader reflects his subjects. President Buhari has maintained an impeccable integrity, an impeccable attitude and character. He has sent chills down the spine of the society. This has communicated a message which suggests a clear indication to zero tolerance to corruption and that is what we have been lacking. President Buhari is on course.
Looking at student unionism presently is there any departure from the legacy you left behind?
I know about Segun Okeowo of the popular ‘Ali must go struggle’, at that time, NANS still has its bite and it was respected as a revolutionary organization but gradually there was a decline. NANS’ reputation was at its lowest ebb when I took over. It was my resolve and determination to again uplift the image of NANS which I did but at the risk of being boastful and immodest, I must tell you that reactionary element and characters took over after I left.
