15/08/2024
THE POWER OF GUBER SEAT.
It was Senator Barnabas Gemade and Dr Iorchia Ayu who made the now SGF Sen Akume the governor of Benue state in 1999. Then Gemade was a two times minister, the former chairman of PDP party the ruling party and a well recognized national figure. They broke up immediately Akume was sworn in and started fighting each other because of personal interest, greed and loyalty like it's been a tradition in Benue for a decade now.
While Akume was still the governor, Gemade wanted to go and represent zone A at the Senate but Akume used the power of sitting governor to deny him the ticket and gave it to senator Akaagerger who was in no way a match to Gemade in any way.
Akume was the first to do 8 years with a lot of k including the Kwande annual Massacre, Zaki Biam, Gbeji, Vaase, Jortar, Kyado and Sankera massacre. When he was leaving office, the masses loved Suswam as a handsome outspoken young man and Akume went with the masses decision and supported Suswam into becoming the governor of Benue state.
At first, Suswam played by their book till when he understood what the power of the governor is and wanted to have a say on somethings in his regime. They cornived to fight him out of power, brought Ugba during the shor chenji era to replace him but as a sharp guy, he manipulated his way back using the power of the governor.
After realising how powerful the guber seat was and as a fight back, Suswam brought Terngu Tsegba to replace Akume and Mathias Byuan to replace Gemade which he had all the powers but still respected them at the dieing minute as his elder brothers and told Byuan and Tsegba to step down.
When it was time for Suswam to leave office as the governor, he never loved Ortom. Infact, he hated Ortom and Akume too didn't want Ortom either. Somehow, the masses wanted Ortom's innocent face and assumed because he already had Oracle companies in Benue he would make a good governor and we were 100% with him. That was how Akume went with the masses decision at the dieing minute and supported Ortom to guber seat at the expense of Jime's assumed rite.
During Ortom's first tenure, he played by the book and allowed them to install everybody like SSG who later became sick and brought the slang "gavment", Chief of staff, BIRS and the rest. In fact Ortom was there like a picture while they were controlling everything from the coffers of Benue and used prominent offices as compensation to party loyalty and relationship fostering.
In Ortom's second tenure when he realised the same power of a seating governor, he started having issue with them and he used the same power of the governor to remove Akume from Senate with an unpopular Orker Jev as his replacement. He mockingly called it retirement and as funny as it sounded, Akume underrated him so much and never imagined it happening but it happened.
In 2023, Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia a very powerful and popular man of God with clean records came on board, everybody in Benue loved and wanted him to be the next governor. Akume then saw what was coming, the popularity and decided to give him ticket in APC. This ticket brought luck, gave the masses hope and through the Yes father wind, some of the national Assembly members were waybilled to Abuja as representatives. Because of Fr Alia, APC took over power from PDP and the powerful Ortom in Benue state.
Why did I go back to history a little bit?
I went back to history so that people can understand how these people came in, who brought them to power, how powerful they became with the seat and what they did with the power of that seat you are underrating today.
I read one funny caption where one of the boys is saying Fr Alia is sounding authoritative as if he owns the state. Omo if governor no own the state who owns it? Let's be sincere.
Again.
We have suddenly forgotten how we buried 300 people one day from Agatu local government because of herdsmen attacks.
We have suddenly forgotten how we buried 75 people and did mass burials wearing all black because of herdsmen in Benue.
We have suddenly forgotten the two sl@ined priests and other parishioners at Mbalom and the rest.
All this governors suffered with insecurities and couldn't solve it during their 8 years tenures. At least the herdsmen k in Guma that was everyday has reduced, we are now battling with Sankera which we all know has some complications, levels of involvements and sellout inward. Truth be told, one year in office alone is not enough for all this insecurity insinuations of Father Alia has abandoned Sankera like they are sponsoring lazy youths to make it seem.
We are in this state and we have seen where former governors play by the book, give stake holders total control to bring people for appointments of key positions and they bring their wives, concubines and girlfriends with no positive impacts. Unfortunately, the errand boys worship them as mummies and collect 10k for data as youths without knowing that they are supposed to be the ones handling such positions.
We have seen where a governor want to construct roads or other projects like bridges to benefit the masses and some of this people collect it in their personal account to eat as their dividends of building the party and no work is done.
If you have not seen all this, I have seen them a lot in Konshisha my local government and other places which we all know.
Dear Benue youths,
Forget the fact that the new governor is a priest who is not power drunk. If he wants to use the power of that governor's seat now like others, no man will have the power to do anything in that state unless he says so.
See how he has given youths sense of belonging and our mates are buying chairmanship forms. See how young men are not just following wives of commissioners but have become commissioners and the state is moving.
Many will insult me but considering what I know, if I shut up and don't give the right orientation, I have equally failed the youths.
Talking about it is risk enough, threat to my life and my growth in the society but if that is my sacrifice for encouraging a better Benue, then so be it. This people don't care about us and wants to rule us with their wives, concubines and handover to their children for the rest of our lives without development.
Open your eyes make dem no use you fight development in your state. This same insecurity they are shouting, non of the previous governments couldn't solve it in their 8 years.
Someone has to say the truth and I choose to be that person.
My name is Krayzeetee Atu Terver. I am the grand commander of Tiv youths and I write again from Konshisha my local government.
GOOD EVENING.
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