Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
There are many candidates in the race for the Benue governorship
position, but political analysts in the state say the contest is really between
the state’s governor, Gabriel Suswam and Stephen Ugbah of the Action Congress
of Nigeria (ACN).
Mr Suswam, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),
was a member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007, when he became
governor.
A socialite, Mr Suswam goes about in designer wears. His allies
describe him as amiable and trustworthy. Mr Ugbah, on the contrary, come across
like the guy next door. Although he is a professor from the United States, he
keeps his gray-dotted hair in afro style and is often dressed in short-sleeve
shirts and dark pants. Both candidates are considered elites in the state.
Incidentally, the political base which promoted Mr Suswam into
office in 2007 is the same now promoting Mr Ugbah.
Mr. Ugbah’s main supporters include former governor George Akume
and a pack of former PDP stalwarts who now constitute the core of Benue state
ACN. The politicians include Audu Ogbeh, a former PDP national Chairman;
Iyorchia Ayu, a former minister and Joseph Akaagerger.
Mr. Suswam understands the dynamics and frequently alleges
conspiracy against him by his former allies. He often refers to Mr Ugbah as a
puppet being used by his foes to remove him from office. But the governor’s
popularity in Benue State has greatly dwindled in recent times. There are
usually two cardinal and mutually exclusive paths that keep governors in power
in Benue state and analysts say Suswam chose none.
“Firstly, the governor develops the state, like Babatunde
Fashola is doing in Lagos; that way the masses will like you and no individual
can unseat you,” Martin Tyehimba, a resident of the state said.
The late Moses Orshio Adasu, a catholic priest, was governor for
18 months in the early 90s and followed the first path. Even in death, Mr.
Adasu remains very popular.
Mr. Suswam is considered to have underachieved, even though he
lists his achievements to include the rehabilitation of streets in the state
capital, Makurdi; improvement of mechanised agriculture; provision of
electricity to “numerous” communities, construction of an housing estate and
renovation of primary schools.
The second path is represented by Mr. Akume. Although he is said
to have under-performed in his first term, Mr Akume got a second term in office
because of his perceived generosity.
“Akume organised his current political gang. He literally shared
the state’s wealth amongst his political allies and they helped him retain
power,” Mr. Tyehimba said.
Unlike his predecessor, My Suswam is accused of handing out jobs
and contracts to his cronies from Lagos – he schooled in Lagos and is married
to a Yoruba – instead of sharing it amongst his home people. This has made it
difficult for him to generate massive support for his second term bid.
Who represents change?
The people of Benue are unhappy with the state of
under-development in the state and would readily accept a change; but some are
skeptical of the change promised by the ACN’s candidate, Mr Ugbah, who is
promoted as the “Ishior Chenji – game changer”.
“The same set of people who presented Suswam to us is the same
set presenting Ugbah to us. Is Ugbah really change or a puppet?” said Innocent
Shaibu, a PDP faithful.
Mr. Shaibu argues that Mr. Akume and his colleagues in ACN are
promoting Mr. Ugbah because they are disgruntled and want to remain relevant.
“Mr. Akume wants someone he can control like a puppet. Mr. Ugbah
has been living overseas for many years now, he does not know anything about
Benue politics, they will just use him,” Mr. Shaibu said.
Mr. Ugbah admits he has lived abroad for long but says he was
part of the process that produced the present administration and is quite
knowledgeable about the state.
“The fundamental questions now begging for answers are: how do
we get Benue out of the present level of penury? How do we revive our political
culture to enable people have confidence in the system and cooperate, for the
overall development of our state? I strongly believe we have the answers to
these questions,” Mr. Ugbah has said.
Going into the governorship elections, he is ahead of Mr. Suswam
in popularity ratings. His Ishor Chenji campaign slogan has become a meme in
the populous Tiv speaking areas of the state. However, if voting patterns
witnessed in the last two elections in the state hold up, the PDP is likely to
win.
PDP faithful have come up with their own slogan, Ishior Huku –
the game has hooked , indicating the state is hooked on Suswam.
“The trend will continue and the same people that voted the party in
previous elections will come out to vote him again,” Cletus Akwaya, the
governor’s spokesperson said.
