Suswam, Akume, Others Take Benue Battle to US
Benue, Governors, Headlines, State News Monday, August 8th, 2011Benue State politicians may have decided to take the political battle in the north central state to the United States as they turned the ongoing convention of the Mutual Union of the Tiv in America (MUTA) to a political forum where they all discussed the political situation of the state.
In his remarks at the event, the Senate minority leader Senator George Akume, who was represented by Mr. Amenger Iygor said that the hope of the Benue people to choose their leaders and a state governor by themselves was cut short by the activities that characterized the elections in the state.
Saying that aggrieved parties at all levels are now before the Tribunal, challenging the victories of their opponents, Senator Akume noted that the ACN gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Steve Ugbah, who contested the gubernatorial election against Governor Gabriel Suswam, will not quit until he reclaims his mandate.
Disagreeing with Senator Akume, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, in his own reaction said there was nothing like a stolen mandate in Benue State, saying that Suswam legitimately won the last governorship election in the state as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ambassador Hagher continued that the elections reflected the will of the people, stressing that the ACN candidate lost the election to Suswam because the support he got from the electorates was not enough to win such election.
The Nigerian envoy added that the governor won the election as a result of his performance through the provision of infrastructure and development of the state during his first term in office, saying that the tribunal would decide whether any mandate was stolen in Benue or not.
Also, the director-general of Gabriel Suswam Campaign Organisation, Dr. Terhemba Shija, who warned against division in the state, noted that there was the need to ensure that there was development in the state rather than pointing accusing fingers at a governor who is trying to develop state.
Shija also warned that the governor should not be blamed for whatever loss that the Tiv region faces at the federal level, adding that the people should not get derailed because of his reelection but should rather initiate the Tiv agenda in order to get what they rightfully deserve from the federal government.
Governor Gabriel Suswam, in his own speech, advised the MUTA President, Mr. Samuel Akough to desist from the spirit of partisanship with which he has been misleading the association
He also showed his disappointment over all the roles being played by the MUTA president, saying that he should be a moderator and neutral person in the politics of Benue State.
“The complete bias and partisanship of MUTA president is unnecessarily instigating other members of the association in taking sides and I believe it is not proper. He should continue to be a moderator in conflict of this nature instead of being partisan,” Suswam added.
Mr. Suswam said: “There was a gubernatorial election in the state and I won. The issue of election malpractices did not arise during the election at all. Now, there is only one government in Benue State and it will remain the only government in Benue State. The outcome of the Tribunal will reveal the truth since it is clear that I truly defeated the candidate of the Action Congress Party during the election.”
Negating claims by Senator Akume that he had no achievements to show as the state governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, through Dr. Cletus Akwaya, his media aide did a ten-minute video presentation of his achievements in Benue State.
Suwsam also challenged the Senate minority leader to mention what he can describe as his achievements when he was governor of Benue State for eight years before he became a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He continued that the tempo of misinformation by the opposition parties was so high that it was only good to put all his achievements on records for Benue Indigenes in Diaspora to see.
The video presentation by the governor’s aide which convinced everybody present about the positive impact that he has made in the State attracted a standing ovation.
Addressing the gathering, controversial Senator Joseph Waku, in corroboration with the governor’s idea, warned the Tiv association never to collectively take side in Benue State politics, stressing that partisanship will reduce its credibility.
Senator Waku further said that the Mutual Union of the Tiv in America (MUTA) should not be used to garner supports for any particular candidate or political party, saying that doing so would make the association lose its original aims and objectives.
Speaking with our correspondent, another stakeholder in Benue State politics, Mr. Joe Kyagba, who made it known that Suswam has performed excellently in the state further added that all the allegations and accusations against the governor were baseless.
Kyagba noted that the electoral storms that the governor was passing through would not reduce his popularity in the State since he was duly elected by the people of Benue as the man of their choice.wp_posts
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He whom the shoes fit, let him wear it. “Governor Gabriel Suswam, in his own speech, advised the MUTA President, Mr. Samuel Akough to desist from the spirit of partisanship with which he has been misleading the associationHe also showed his disappointment over all the roles being played by the MUTA president, saying that he should be a moderator and neutral person in the politics of Benue State .” Leadership News Paper. Sun. 8/7/2011By Abiodun Oluwarptimi There was nothing new from the message that the Governor of Benue State , Rt. Hon. Gabriel T. Suswam sent to MUTA convention this year. It is the rehash of the same old thing we heard last year from the same man, Dr. Akwaya his advisor on media matters. Same projects, same level of completion and same lies. I am rather shocked and ashamed that, the state government would send 8 people to appear before the annual convention of MUTA to remind them that their president has engaged in partisan politics. Lets assume that the cost for a first class ticket is $7,000.00 and for 8 people we would have spent $56,000. Then their pocket money, lets assume $50,000.00 each, totaling at $400,000 on a conservative guess apart from cost of transportation from Makurdi to Abuja . The state government would have spent $456,000 dollars just to deliver this message to MUTA members. This amount of money could built us several class room blocks, pay a good number of students tuition and or used for the purchase of medical supplies for our rural clinics or go towards the implementation of the minimum wage law. I believe that a one or two man delegation would have fit this kind of mission. The governor through his spoke person Dr. Aliegba had pointed an accusing finger at me for playing partisan politics with the office of MUTA president, ignoring the fact that he the Governor has been heard to have threatened to expel traditional leaders who did not deliver for PDP in the last election!!! Who has been playing partisan politics? Is it not Governor Suswam that had tried to plunge MUTA into partisan politics? Since he became Governor of Benue state, he had refused to attend MUTA conventions until last year when it became convenient for his political advantage? Did you people remember the 5 man delegation to evaluate his achievements at home? That was his idea, purely for political gain “his re-election”. Who has been playing politics with MUTA?
Is it not our same governor that had privately and in some cases publically told some of our members that MUTA was of no use to TIV people? That he cannot see what MUTA has done for TIV people? (Tiv mba ken America ). His partnership with MUTA in the health fair project seemed to be that he has been compared to do so, probably for political reasons. For three years that we’ve conducted health fair in TIV land his commissioner of health was never around to receive our volunteers. MUTA is a not for profit volunteer organization, any donations or contributions from government or individuals is always welcome. If the partnership with MUTA in the health fair project is to expect MUTA as an organization and its individual members on their own turn a blind eye from injustices and human rights violation by the sitting government then I tell you, I know MUTA membership, they got something coming. When our chairman of our health fair committee pays a curtsy call on the governor is purely as a respect to the office and he who occupies it. I do refuse to the notion that, when ever our members stop by to greet the governor, they are looking for hand outs from the government. In the last 19 years, we have given educational assistance scholarship to over 400 recipients of science discipline with out the help from the government, and we shall continue to do so. So, who has been playing politics? My predecessors have enjoyed close contact with the Governor of Benue state during their presidency except me. Why? maybe because I have been on the fore front reminding the government in Mkurdi of the conditions of living that our people are experiencing in our towns and villages, which is deplorable, embarrassing and unacceptable. Not that my predecessors did not condemn such conditions but they had the Governors ears therefore there was no need for an alternative route of communicating those concerns to the governor. President Adyorough, President Doo Gar, President James Gire all had direct lines to the governor where they were able to register their concerns and counsel to the Governor. When I became President of MUTA, Hon. Chile Igbawua took me to the Government house to pay a curtsy call on him. We exchanged phone numbers and e mail addresses. Not one phone call or e-mail was answered by the Governor’s aides. Our Governor is inaccessible! The Governor of Benue state is the servant of the people, therefore, it is essential that he makes himself available to his electorates. It is disappointing for the Governor to dismiss advice of people that would tell him the truth, then turn around and brand them “as playing political games” when they use other ways to reach him. I know this accusation of playing partisan politics started after an article I wrote, named: “The greatest political Blunder in Benue Politics of our times”. (You will be better informed if you would go back and read my article to really understand why this is coming up now) I was verified, maligned, attempted character assassination, to an up right fabricated accusation of rape from GHM. No one from GHM came out and denied what I laid out in the article. Therefore, we shall assume that the blunders were true that’s why GHM did not deny what the article enumerated and therefore, I will say that my article serves the Governor as a learning curve for the future but not political. So, who has been playing partisan politics then? Leading to gubernatorial election, I was at home in the villages urging our local folks to vote their conscience but not to be told whom to vote for. This is what MUTA stands for. We stand for free and fair elections. I have written articles upon articles on this subject beginning three years ago. No one complained that I was politicking. For years, I wrote and spoke about the need for a one man one vote and his or her votes must be counted and this is in line with MUTA values and focus and I was still MUTA president. That was not misleading the organization. When I went into our villages and small towns before elections day, I was preaching the same message. That’s not misleading MUTA organization. I did not come out before the elections and urged MUTA members to vote for a particular party or candidate in any election, not at any time, not at any place. If any one did hear me or see me, let him come out now and say so. For the Governor to accuse me of such, I respectfully disagree with his Excellency on the charge of political patronage for a particular candidate or party. Would I have been none partisan if I had publically endorsed Governor Suswam and the PDP?
My fellow TIV brothers and sisters, it’s highly partisan if a small organization like MUTA compared to powerful BSG would negotiate with a media house to cover MUTA with its meager resources and the powerful hands of BSG would reach out and compromise the poor young man and compare him to basically ignore the positive issues discussed at the convention and progress that MUTA has made in the last 19 years, but come out with a head line like “Akume and Suswam took their battle to America” it’s beyond my silence. Dr. Aliegba, Joe Kyaagba, Dr. Akwaya, and my brother Terhemba Shija should be ashamed of themselves. Governor Suswam deserves better from these individuals. Ladies and gentlemen, the affairs of governing the state of Benue is not an operation that you engage in by technical application. Once you are sworn in, you are completely above the frail. You are now the governor of Benue state, and so the governor of all regardless of party affiliations, you must protect and defend all laws whether they favor your government or not. His Excellency, Governor G. T. Suswam must not pass the buck. He is the one playing partisan politics with the people and MUTA members not me! For me, I respect the office of the Governor of Benue state and the one who holds it. But I will never rubber stamp the actions of government. I will continue to question on things that needs clarity.
Thank you!
Samuel I. Akough
Ex-president MUTA (Mutual Union Of TIV in Amerika)