GENGE CHIA examines the crisis of succession in Benue State ahead of the 2015 elections and in view of decaying infrastructure, collapsing industries, unpaid salaries and pensions as well as worsening unemployment and captures the tough odds against whoever would succeed governor Gabriel Suswam
Doing a news analysis at an election time, especially in a state like Benue, poses a great challenge to journalists. With pervasive poverty written on the face of virtually everybody in the state, caused by the near-total absence of basic amenities, it is even harder to forecast the immediate future. There is the lack of adequate electricity – which one must admit – is beyond the capacity of the state government to fix. Add this to the absence of portable drinking water in most parts of the metropolis, non-payment of workers salaries and pensions on a regular basis, broken-down infrastructures like industries and the size of the 2015 challenges flings open. As if to add salt to injury, some institutions of higher learning have remained closed for several months, while sweeping unemployment ravages the state.
In the face of the above scenario, Benue has an even greater challenge with over twenty aspirants jostling for just one office – an office which Gabriel Suswam will soon vacate.
Of the over twenty aspirants, seventeen are from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while four are from the All Progressive Congress (APC) .How to pick the best candidate remains a great task for all the indigenes of the state. Most political observers are of the opinion that a level playing field should be provided for the aspirants to enable the delegates choose the candidate they think could move the state forward; devoid of ethnicity, imposition and such other ulterior considerations that could sway the voting in favour of an undeserved candidate.
The perennial issue of the Tiv and Idoma candidate has continued to linger, but the new thinking in the state whether among the Tivs or Idoma or other ethnic groups is that, in providing a solution to the myriads of problems confronting the State, ethnicity and all such other base considerations should be cast aside but the best or from any part of the state should succeed Suswam.
But in what many consider as the interest of equity, justice and fair play, what is on the lips of most Benue people, within or outside the state is that the Idoma nation from Zone ‘C’ should be given the opportunity to rule the state this time around.
However, it is widely speculated that governor Gabriel Suswam is the final arbiter on who succeeds him. Recently, he reportedly called all the PDP aspirants and gave Ten minutes to each, to tell the people why they were the best candidates to succeed him. The question that arises from that exercise is whether it will give the governor a bird’s eye-view of what that best candidate has.
Many indigenes of the state do not support the actions of the Tiv Traditional Council, the Binda Elders and the Idoma Elders who are undemocratically attempting to influence the choice of a PDP flag bearer for the 2015 election in the state.
Looking at the PDP aspirants, their credentials and antecedents, many people spoken to – from all strata of the society- believe that a proper delegate election must be conducted devoid of manipulation.
Some of the top contestants from Tiv Land, whose names are constantly being mentioned in the state include: Hon. Tarzoo from Makurdi, Dr. Samuel Otom from Guma Local Government, Dr. Hinga Biem from Gwer West and Eng. Atume from Gwer East. These four candidates are not the only big names in the race. Others are Prof. David Ker – a former Vice Chancellor of Benue State University, Eugene Aliegba, Eng. Dr. Simone Anchaber, Prince Andy Uwo, Bar. Alex Adum, Dr. Gabriel T. Nyitsem; Michael Aondokaa, the current deputy governor Chief Steve Lawani, the former Medical Director of the Federal Medical Center Makurdi Dr. Mathias Oyigeya; Dr. Adah Chenge, Hon. Sam Odeh – former Federal Minister, James Mbachiapin. All the above contestants have duly returned their forms after paying the mandatory Thirteen Million Naira fee to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In the All Progressive Congress Party (APC) Senator J.K.N Waku, Prof. Ugba a former candidate of ACN in the 2011 election, Hon. Emmanuel Jime; a former Head of Service in the State, Akange Audu are the candidates for the number one position in the state.
Now the big question is: who has the best quality to succeed governor Suswam? Presently, all the aspirants are criss-crossing the nooks and crannies of the state selling their candidature and manifestoes to the people.
All the above people have had their successes and failures but the one man who seems to stand out from the crowd is Dr. Mathias Oyigeya – the immediate past Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Center Makurdi. A cross-section of people in the state – whether in Tiv or Idoma Land believe that Dr. Mathias Oyigeya is better qualified. Journalists have long ago established that politicians are always given to fine rhetorics and phantom promises but in the case of this aspirant, his rhetorics are based on what can be accessed and feasible. At the age of just 51, Dr. Mathias has demonstrated that given the opportunity, not only the sky but the universe is his limit in his attempt to transform the state in all its ramifications. A little peep into his achievements in life will tell the story. For example, in defiance of all obstacles he was able to move the Medical Center to the zenith after several failed attempts by his predecessors. Also realizing the growing unemployment situation in Benue State, he not only provided over 1,000 jobs for the people but also ensured that such appointments cut across all ethnic groups in the state. Being a sensible and sensitive person, he ensured that the Federal Medical outreach was distributed to all the three zones in the state. At a time when the stories of strikes have become a routine occurrence in this country, there was no single labour dispute throughout his six years tenure of office. This peaceful atmosphere gave him the opportunity to build, expand and equip the hospital to world class standards. This is one single man, in the opinion of many fair-minded people in the state that while in Government House, he would treat all Benue citizens fairly and justly. Dr. Mathias speaks passionately about the state and understands all the socio economic challenges facing it, but affirms that given the material and financial resources in the state, they would smile again. A highly rated Physician, Dr. Mathias also holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration and several other qualifications which adequately prepares him for the position he now seeks.
This is why in the three opinion polls that were conducted on the aspirants, Dr. Mathias Oyigeya has consistently topped the polls.
What is of concern to many people in the State is the fact that in Benue State or indeed in Nigerian politics, merit has always been swept under the rug when it comes to governorship. It is to this extent that it is wrong for one single individual or a group of some elders to dictate and direct the life of over five million people in the state.
It is this kind of scenario that gave birth to the political culture where certain groups of people to continue to play on the poverty and helplessness of the people, by giving them peanuts in order to secure their votes and to subject them to being perpetually hewers of wood and drawers of water, while they and their cronies alone continue to feast on what belongs to the people of Benue state. There should be a rethink this time around and the old order should give way to a new dispensation. There is the consensus that unless the people of Benue are willing to tackle the negative political culture that gives others the exceptional privilege to think on behalf of the voters, the state would just be running around in circles.
What is certain is that Benue is overdue for change and Dr. Mathias, in the words of one journalist in the State, “is an aspirant that represents the new, vibrant, innovative and young talent, with the scientific management ability and philosophy needed in the challenging journey to take Benue to the highest level of development”. It remains to be seen where the pendulum would swing to, in 2015.
