2023: Ortom unpredictable as aspiring successors intensify schemes

Less than two years to the 2023 general election, politicians on various political parties’ platforms in the country have kicked-started activities to vie for their desired positions. Our correspondent reports that in Benue State, the politicians eyeing the foremost seat of power are not left out as they are many presently doing their bits, occasioned […]

Less than two years to the 2023 general election, politicians on various political parties’ platforms in the country have kicked-started activities to vie for their desired positions.

Our correspondent reports that in Benue State, the politicians eyeing the foremost seat of power are not left out as they are many presently doing their bits, occasioned by high-level consultations to clinch their different parties’ tickets for the contest.

It’s no wonder billboards and posters of governorship aspirants, especially, have adorned many towns and cities across the state, even as the timing of declaration by the aspirants are seen to be in line with election practice and order.

Already, some officials of the Governor Samuel Ortom-led administration have resigned their various portfolios in their pursuits to succeed their principal as they intensify schemes in view of primaries of political parties expected to hold at least six months from now.

With over 60 aspirants from different political parties declaring their intentions so far for the governor’s seat, and about 14 appointees of the Benue State government (among them those seeking to become governor) having resigned their appointments, Governor Ortom’s body language does not suggest his open support for any of them. 

While some of them have resigned to contest the primaries of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), others resigned to seek other positions, including national and state assemblies’ elections.

Meanwhile, their resignations were in compliance with the directive by Governor Ortom that all those wishing to contest elections in 2023 should resign their appointments by September 30, 2021.

Among those who resigned in anticipation of playing the gubernatorial card are the former Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Terver Akase; former Chief of Staff, Pastor Terwase Orbunde and Prof. Dennis Ityavyar, the former Commissioner for Education as well as that of Water Resources and Environment, Dondo Ahire.

Others in the circle of the PDP’s long list of governorship aspirants are Ortom’s deputy, Engr Benson Abounu; a former NAFDAC head, Dr Paul Orhi; a former Director General of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Paul Angya; a former Managing Director of NEXIM bank, Robert Orya; Chief Chile Igbawua; Julius Atorough; and a serving state legislator, Terkaa Ucha.

On the other hand, contenders for the foremost seat in the All Progressives Congress (APC) include those from Vandekiya LGA; a former Managing Director of Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, Engr (Mrs) Ada Chenge (an Idoma married to Tiv); Prof. Terhemba Shija; Dr. John Tor Tsuwa; Arc. Bernard Aernyi Yisa; Esv. Godwin Ityoachimin; Dr. Jeff Kuraun; Mcdonald Ter Tor; Paul Ugba Uye; and Moses Chiahemba Ayom.

Those from Konshisha are Senator Barnabas Gemade; Barr. Herman Iorwase Hembe; and Dr. Mathias Byuan while those from Kwande LGA include Prof. Joseph Alakali; Mark Tersoo Hanmation; Comrade Richard Tersoo Mnenga; Chief Terlumun Akputu; Joseph Kuhe Yashi; Levi Lumun Icheen; Silas Akoso; Nick Wendeh; Bem Tseen; Barr. Benjamin Wayo; Msoo Illelywyn Ghasarah; and Jacob Dzurgba. 

Also, from Ushongo are the likes of a former minister of Justice, Chief Mike Kaase Aondoakaa; John Asen Loko and Engr. George Nduul.

From the Idoma speaking area of Otukpo LGA, the APC aspirants lined up for the governorship position are, a former minister of state for Niger Delta, Dr. Sam Ode and the Peace Corps National Commandant, Ambassador Dickson Akoh even as Ogbadigbo LGA boasts of a former deputy governor, Chief Stephen Lawani; a former Medical Director of FMC Makurdi, Dr. Mathias Oyigeya; and Comrade Dan Onjeh while Okpokwu LGA has Chief Noah McDickson for now.

Particularly of interest is the move by the Benue South and Benue North East senatorial districts (zones C and A) where strong agitators for who occupies the exalted position have emerged.

It is stating the obvious that scheming has begun following the declaration by various individuals, blocs and zones for the position.

The people of Benue South senatorial district, which comprises of nine LGAs with major tribes such as the Idoma, Igede, Akweya and Offia people, are making a strong case to succeed incumbent Ortom based on the argument that since the creation of Benue State in 1976, the zone is yet to occupy the seat despite several attempts in the past.

It would be recalled that in 1979, the late Aper Aku was elected as the first civilian governor of Benue State. His tenure was short-lived as the military intervention of General Muhammadu Buhari truncated the process.

Aku from Kwande, a component part of the Benue North East tenure began the process of an unwritten zoning – an arrangement that became sacrosanct amongst the Tiv speaking zones of Benue North east and the Benue North west.

When the country returned to civilian rule in 1991, again Late Reverend Father Moses Adasu from the Benue North East was elected governor of the state. His tenure was also short-lived due to the General Sani Abacha military takeover.

In 1999, when the country returned to civilian rule, Senator George Akume was elected as the third civilian governor of Benue State. He is from the Benue North west and served a two term of eight years.

At the end of his tenure when most pundits thought power should shift to the Benue South to complete the rotation, Governor Gabriel Suswam was elected from Benue North East and he spent eight years.

Suswam’s administration’s twilight however indicated another seriousness in the contest for the 2015 governorship which the Idoma speaking zone sought the support of their Tiv brothers from the other two senatorial districts in vain.

That was because the Tiv people insisted on clearly exhausting their underground arrangements for all its blocs which comprises of Benue North east (zone A) – Sankera, Jerchira and Kwande – and the Benue North West (zone B) comprising of Jemgbagh, Masev, Iharev and Nonguv – otherwise known as MINDA. 

To this end, it became an interchange between the Benue North East and Benue North West senatorial zone, leaving out the Idoma speaking Benue South senatorial zone.

And by 2015, the current Governor Samuel Ortom emerged under the MINDA bloc of Benue North West to complete the circle of political leadership among the Tiv ethnic group in the state.

Presently, the nine local government areas in Benue South comprising Okpokwu, Otukpo, Ado, Oju, Obi, Ohimini, Apa, Ogbadigbo and Agatu LGAs cannot lay claims to the governorship position based on numerical strength.

This however is due to population and tribal differences between the zones as a combined population of both Benue North East and North West far outweigh that of Benue South.

While both the east and west share brotherly relation as members of one Tiv speaking family, the south with less population is predominantly Idoma speaking with Igede and other smaller groups which hadn’t found an opportunity to provide leadership for the 45-year-old state on the basis of tribe and number.

But observers have opined that since the three zones have existed together in Benue, the position should be a preserve for all.

As the Idoma zone however failed in all its attempts to get the nod in the past, pundits now wonder if 2023 will be different.

Nevertheless, the jostle for the governorship position in next general election would surely be a fierce battle of personality and party influence, especially between the ruling PDP and APC, the major opposition in the state.

So far, Governor Ortom has not indicated personal or ethnic interest for the competitors even as he at different events predicted that his successor in office by 2023 would emerge from the PDP.

“In 2023, the governor who would replace me will be from the PDP. The person, I don’t know yet but he is going to be from our party. 

“We are not going to lose election in this state. We shall change the change in 2023,” he had said at a forum when he received defectors from the APC.

Despite the governor’s position, an Idoma group under the auspices of Benue Rebirth Movement (BRM) led by retired Air Vice Marshal Monday Morgan, recently visited Ortom, some traditional institution and political parties to canvass for support so that Benue South could produce the next governor for the first time in the history the state.

The BRM leadership during its meeting at different times with Ortom and the Tor Tiv, urged them to persuade their Tiv brethren in Benue North East and North West zones to support the idea of an Idoma person becoming the governor of Benue State in 2023.

The Morgan-led BRM had also appealed to political parties to allow only aspirants from Benue South to contest their primary elections just as contenders from the area are heavily relying on the backing of the group to coast home to victory regardless of their party’s affiliation.

However, aspirants from the Benue North East are dominating the scene with the belief that the zone would begin a fresh round of the Tivs legendary unwritten arrangement of power rotation, an argument this time which favoured the Kwande and Jerchira blocs.

In the meantime, as the move towards 2023 political dispensation intensify, the agitation for power rotation seems to be gaining ground with some pundits from the Tiv speaking area of the state concurring that the time is ripe for power to shift to their Idoma brothers in the interest of peace, unity and justice.

Only time will, however, tell how the Idomas would realise their dream because at the moment, the odds seemed to be advancing towards the Jerchira and Kwande blocs.