In what can be described as behind the scene decisions Governor Gabriel Suswam’s senatorial ambition was scuttled. Kula Tersoo in Makurdi writes
Benue state Governor Gabriel Suswam has, for the first time since the final resurgence of democracy in Nigeria, tested defeat in the just concluded National Assembly elections.
Suswam who represented Sankera (Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo) federal constituency at the nation’s green chambers for two terms after which he got elected as the Governor of the Food Basket state for yet another two terms lost to the former national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and incumbent senator representing Benue North-East district, Chief Barnabas Gemade, in a very keenly contested polls.
The loss by Suswam, it has been observed, has some invisible hands that orchestrated the governor has already cried foul in the results as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging amongst other things that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of the state, Prof. Istafanus Dafuang, depicted a body language that is glaring that he was in the state to implement a particular plan targeted at disgracing him.
Findings after the results of the Benue North-east district were announced suggests that there was a general gang up amongst top notches of the PDP both in the state and outside.
Some close friends of the Governor decided to play Judas by accompanying him but only to later identify him to the foes and leave him at their mercies. The Governor incurred the wrath of his friends and confidants when it became obvious that he was strategically positioning himself first to challenge for senate presidency once elected. It was also discussed in some quarters that should he win and move on to successfully challenge for the presidency of the senate, he would be in almost a pole position from the state to challenge for the Presidency if Jonathan had won and the country still under the control of the PDP.
One of the governor’s closest associates and enormous beneficiary of the PDP government, Chief Mike Aondoakaa severally and on different occasions re echoed this. He, recently during the commissioning of an ultra-Modern International Market built by Suswam’s government admonished the people to vote for PDP and narrated how after Goodluck tenure, the Presidency seat would come to the Middle Belt adding that, “so, you see, once that is done, Suswam would either pick it or I would. Tell me you will not want to see one of you become the President of this country? Me, I have resolved to work for PDP whatsoever happen”.
Curiously, Aondoakaa apart from not delivering his polling unit and ward to the party he vowed to defend, quickly dump Suswam and announced his resignation of PDP membership.
Also, many have argue tenaciously that had the Governor paid all the three months outstanding salaries of civil servants in the state, no matter the conspiracy, he would have scaled through as the votes would have been too overwhelming to be played under the carpet.
Those who are of this view believe that the people of the area knows the two personalities involved in the race and would not have gone for Gemade whom apart from been an incumbent, is not loved by the people because of his tightfistedness and class consciousness.
Suswam and his team have lamented furiously the role of the INEC REC in the state, accusing him of complicity in the defeat of the governor.
Prince Solomon Wombo who was an agent for the Governor and PDP raised many questions that were not answered by the REC especially at the point of collating and announcing results at the Commission’s office in Makurdi.
Wombo alleged amongst other things that the PDP and her agents were left in the dark and abandoned at Katsina-Ala, the headquarters of the senatorial district which was supposed to serve as collation centre while all the APC agents got wind of changes in plans and were all in Makurdi. “This is a clear indication that the REC was in communication with the APC and their agents”.
According to Wombo, “the REC cancelled results in nine and a half council wards in the senatorial district amounting to the disenfranchisement of over one hundred and twenty voters but went ahead to declare results. Remember, the gap between Gemade and my principal is just twenty-two thousand votes”.
Pundits believe that though Suswam may have not ended up as the best civilian Governor Benue has had, he indeed touched the main problem of the state, infrastructure development and positively attended to it.
It is believed that in doing this and many more, the Governor accomplished for his people of Sankera what Akume could not do for his Jemgbagh people in the eight years he presided over state affairs.
Before 2007, the Sankera part of Tiv land was believed to remained largely as unknown border communities, inaccessible or at best, transit routes to parts of North East. An axis that hungered for everything including water, roads and health care facilities despite the worthiness in agriculturalists, (Zaki Biam Yam Market) yet they displayed the most abhorrent specie of deprived people in Tiv nation, as poverty knocked on every door to the extent that the community lost its sense of fraternity.
With Suswam in office, first as House of Reps member and then governor of the state has modestly changed the face of Sankera.
As governor, patronage of his people with political appointments and juicy contracts have not only elevated his kith and kin, but also created millionaires across all age groups, which the community could source for help in times of difficulties.
According to a social critic, Maurice Tsav, it is the same community which fought so hard that Suswam should not proceed from Government House Makurdi in 2015 to the Senate like Akume did in 2007, just like his other colleagues across Nigeria.
He stated further that if the Sankera community feels that making Suswam a laughing stock in the eyes of Benue people, is the best option for whatever perceived wrongs, it may be worse with them in the years to come.
