{
  "id": 13338874,
  "title": "I tried; Idoma cannot be governor in Benue – Steven Lawani",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/i-tried-idoma-cannot-be-governor-in-benue-steven-lawani",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-10T05:20:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/i-tried-idoma-cannot-be-governor-in-benue-steven-lawani/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chief Steven Lawani, a former administrator, businessman and politician hailing from Benue State, has had an extensive career in the private sector, serving as the chairman of various banks before his foray into politics. Lawani, who served as the deputy governor of Benue State between 2007 and 2011, is now actively involved in politics both nationally and within the state. Raised in the Otukpa district of Benue State, Lawani's early life was spent in various barracks across Nigeria, including Abeokuta, Enugu, and Kaduna. He went on to graduate from Ahmadu Bello University in 1973 with a degree in Economics. After serving as a National Youth Service Corps member in Maiduguri, Lawani began his career in the Nigerian Hotels Board, eventually becoming the chairman of Savannah Bank and Manny Merchant Bank. His political career began in 1983 when he contested as the deputy national chairman of the National Republican Convention (NRC).",
  "summary": "Chief Steven Lawani, administrator, businessman and politician, started his career in the Nigerian Hotels Board. He later became the chairman of the board and held a string of other positions in the private sector, including the chairmanship of Savannah Bank and Manny Merchant Bank, before he veered into politics. He served as the deputy governor […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}