26 aspirants jostle for Benue governorship seat HENRY IYORKASE writes on the array of aspirants on the platforms of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, jostling for the Benue State Government House in 2015 and what they have going for them. In Benue State, when election approaches, the case has always been the emergence of two major political parties, viz the one in power and the opposition and in this instant, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the opposition All progressives Congress, APC. The duo, as has always been the case would try to outwit each other in election contests with a view to grab power at both state and at national levels. The 2015 general election is also fast approaching and the two major political parties in the state are once again expected to slug it out for power in the state, considered to be strategically and centrally located in the North Central geo-political area of this country. Presently, no fewer than 23 aspirants have so far indicated their interest in the PDP to run for the plum job of the number one citizen in the state against three from the APC. Leading the pack from the ruling PDP was a university don, Dr. Eugene Aliegba, who has served the state for close to seven years in different ministries, namely; Education, Rural Development and Co-operatives, Agriculture and Natural Resources and until his resignation, Environment and Urban Development. Aliegba, a one-time lecturer in the Department of Political Science in the state university, said to have derived his strength from those in the corridor of power, is fast becoming a house hold name. Analysts are of the view that he may eventually get the party’s nod as a result of the present support he enjoyed from high quarters, if such support could be sustained till the D-day, when the party would pick a flag berarer. Mr. John Hingah Biem, a former top civil servant is another governorship contender, having served the state for over 20 years and rising to the position of a Permanent Secretary, also relinquished his appointment to pave way for his political ambition. Biem is believed to be favoured, coming from zone B of the state, particularly from Masev axis within the MINDA geo-political area with less privilege positions in government, compared to the Iharev and Nongov within the same zone that enjoyed several political offices both at the state and national levels in the past and up to date. His major weakness however, could be his never being a core party man so to say; having all along been a bureaucrat, with little or no olitical will to advance his course state wide. Another notable aspirant on the PDP platform is the former Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, who has now been moved to Aviation Ministry as Supervising Minister by President Goodluck Jonathan. A grassroots politician, Dr. Ortom enjoyed wide support within the party and outside and therefore, stands a better chance of becoming the flag bearer of PDP in thesState. Ortom possessed the charisma and his popularity cut across all the three senatorial districts of the state. He was even said to enjoy the support from the opposition and said to be nationally connected. Many have argued that he knows the job description better than other aspirants, having being an industrialist, entrepreneur and a farmer by extension. If he is able to scale through the nomination exercise which obviously is his major task because of power play by some interest groups in the PDP, his smooth sail to Government House is not in doubt. Dr. Terhemba Shija, currently lecturing at the Nasarawa State University, is also in the race to Benue Government House in Makurdi. On two occasions, he made attempts to go to the National Assembly to represent his people at the upper chamber, having had a stint with the lower chambers in the botched Third Republic, but failed due to unforeseen circumstances. When he was asked step down for Senator Daniel Saror in 1999, he obliged, demonstrating a rare humane character. He also gave his chance to an elder statesman Senator Barnabas Gemade and alternatively served as Director- General to the campaign organisations of both George Akume and Governor Gabriel Suswam, who all won their elections. According the one time Commissioner of Information in the state, he has adequately paid his dues and is seeking to take a shot at the state number one position come 2015 as compensation. Though controversial, the candidature of Dr. Shija may suffer set back in view of the fact that Rev. Moses Orshio Adasu from Jechira axis, where Shija came from had ruled the state for a year and eight months and according to the Tiv’s philosophy of ‘live and lets live,’ the area appears to have lapses owing to political exigencies. Constitutionally however, he is qualified to run like any other candidate for that matter and considering also that Adasu’s tenure was merely under transition and shortly lived, he may make headway. What was more, with the likes of Jolly Nyame of Taraba State and Prince Abubakar of Kogi State all returning to complete their tenures under a duly elected democratic government, he may clinch the position. One other aspirant to beat on the platform of PDP is Engr. Felix Atume, the immediate past Registrar of the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria, COREN and one time Commissioner of Works and Housing in Benue. He parades an intimidating wealth of experience, having been the director of DFFRI in Benue State and recently a lecturer at Federal University of Technology, Minna, respectively. Matured and well exposed to issues of development locally, national and even beyond, Atume is seeking to tap the abundance of both human and material resources the state is endowed with to greater advantage. Atume had promised to look inward to develop the state than over depending on statutory allocation from the Federal Government. He also has tremendous good will from a wide range of people from the length and breadth of the country, who are ready to support him achieve his dreams. Equally of note in the race is the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, who despised zoning in the state and is seeking to come to power, according to him, to create wealth through agriculture. Many have said he is a dogged man that can use all avenues at his disposal to achieve his aims. He may, however, have the deficiency because of his birth place, (Kwande -Ushongo), which has produced the first civilian governor of the state, the late Aper Aku, who governed Benue one full term and was into the second tenure when the military struck. Other aspirants on the PDP platform include: a pharmacist and industrialist with specialty in food processing, Peter Chieshe; former Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Sam Ode; Harris Ogbole and the incumbent Deputy Governor, Chief Steven Lawani, all from zone C comprising of Idoma and Igede nationalities that have never govern the state since its creation in 1976. Despite the credibility of these aspirants, the worry is that their undoing may be the popular saying that politics is a game of numbers, as the Tiv constitutes over 70 percent of the state population as compared to the Idoma and Igede with about 28 percent put together. Another serious allegation against them is that they, unlike the Tivs in terms of generosity may corner everything to themselves if given the opportunity to rule the state. But a school of thought however opined that Chief Lawani from possess the maturity to steer the affairs of the state and his cordial relationship with his immediate boss, Governor Suswam, has proved that if he was entrusted with power to serve the state, he will effectively discharge his duties because of his antecedents. On the other hand and from every indication, the opposition party in the state, the APC seems to be taking stock, especially as it just recently concluded its membership registration. Presently only three aspirants have openly indicated interest to run for the governorship race on the APC platform and they are: two-time member of the House Representatives, representing Makurdi/Guma federal constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Jime, a physiotherapy specialist, Dr. Iyorwuese Ligom and a retired Permanent Secretary, Mr. Akange Audu. Jime, chairman House Committee on the Federal capital Territory, FCT, who recently defected from the PDP to the APC is one favoured to clinch the APC ticket, having come from the MINDA area where the governorship of Benue State has been zoned. The one-time speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly has since embarked on wide consultation tours for his ambition and is now working closely with APC leader, Senator George Akume among other party stalwarts. As far as that party is concerned, his chances are bright according to political observers. Dr. Ligom, a veteran aspirant, who once again appeared on the scene and is drumming support for his governorship ambition come 2015, is known for crossing carpeting from one party to the other over the years. He may spring a surprise as the only aspirant from zone A of the state, where the APC has its stronghold. Mr. Audu from the MINDA axis is equally qualified to serve the state at that high level, having been on ground for quite some time and having understood the yearnings and aspirations of his people. He is a big time farmer and could mobilize effectively his campaign machineries. Prior to this time, he worked with the erstwhile governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Professor Stephen Ugba very closely and many said that Akange may come in to bridge the gap as Ugba’s alternative. Meanwhile, while the PDP is facing serious crisis at the federal level, leading to mass defections to the APC, the reverse is the case in benue, as the APC has lost strong and prominent members to the PDP. Those who have left the APC for the ruling party include: former Senate President, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, Col. Bejamin Aboho (rtd), the member representing Kwande/Ushongo/Oju federal constituencies at the lower chamber of the National Assembly, Hon. Joseph Adogo Onah, a former registrar of Benue State University, Barrister William Moze and Hon. Dehiin Zuai one of Ayu’s disciples and a member Benue State House of Assembly. As it is, the APC seems to have more on its hands than the ruling PDP, as most of its members are said to be at daggers drawn. Leaders of the opposition like Abubakar Usman, popularly known as Young Alhaji, who is aptly described as arrow head of opposition from zone C is in complete disagreement with his political ally, Senator Akume over a lingering crisis that borders on the control of the party. While Akume considered himself an emancipator with over-bearing influence on the party’s hierarchy, Young Alhaji from Benue South senatorial district sees himself as the original opposition leader than Akume. In the final analysis therefore, one may not be able to predict the outcome of the 2015 general elections in Benue State as there seems to be rumours of “wars” and “fight to finish” by the gladiators for the soul of Benue. Also there are surprises yet awaiting the two major political parties as major political actors like Senator Gemade and Hon Hembe and sole members of the National Assembly from the state are already on their verge of defecting to political parties where they will be more relevant in the scheme of things in the state. Whoever clinches the ticket of either of the political parties slugging it out for the soul of Benue, would still have the electorate to contend with, as the power to decide who occupies the Benue State Government House resides in the people.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 13:32:03 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015