While 2015 may look far away to the average Nigerian on the street, the same cannot be said of the politician that sees it as already here. Accordingly, key players and other stakeholders have commenced moves towards positioning themselves for the coming 2015 general elections. KULA TERSOO x- rays the battle between Governor Gabriel Suswam and Senator Barnabas Gemade for the senate seat In Benue state, one of the most intriguing and celebrated is the Benue North-east senatorial seat where the handwriting is becoming clear as to the determination of Governor Gabriel Suswam to take over the senatorial seat of Chief Barnabas Gemade at the expiration of his tenure in 2015. Gemade, a former national Chairman of the defunct Congress for National Consensus (CNC) in the late General Sani Abacha aborted transition programme and later that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is serving his first term as a lawmaker. Gemade took over from his kinsman from Gaav, in Konshisha Local Government, Senator Joseph Akaagerger, who equally served one term from 2007 to 2011. Even though the dance steps and body language of Suswam to the drum beats of his 2015 senatorial ambition became pronounced, his lack of a formal declaration has made some of his opponents including Senator Gemade, who are of the view that the move might only be a joke. But recent developments in the state have shown that Suswam is not interested in the position but keen on the project. Sponsored moves Suswam’s perceived rhetoric started when a forum on the aegis of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Elders Forum led by Hon. Atoza Ihindan converged at the Akume Atongo stadium, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area and announced the endorsement of the governor for the 2015 senatorial ticket of the party and stressed that it has been resolved that Gemade should not be re-elected. In in a swift reaction however, Gemade had described the elders position as an act of mischief aimed at creating enmity between him and Suswam and therefore warned that he was not in a hurry to let the seat slip under his sleeves and therefore dismissed the leadership of the group led by his brother in-law Atoza Ihindan. Gemade noted that Ihindan only tried to hit back at him for a decision he took in 1999 that endorsed the choice of Suswam in preference for him (Ihindan) for the election into the House of Representatives and Since then, several groups have emerged drumming support for Suswam to run for senate. Recently, Shangev-tiev community in Konshisha led by Ambassador Awuhe Ikyongo urged Suswam to get ready for the senate at the expiration of his tenure as governor. The community said Suswam remains popular both at the state and at the national level and therefore should not be allowed to stay idle just as they elders of the state noted that the governor’s popularity is hinged on the wonderful works accomplished during his tenure in addition to his being trusted at the national politicl arena amongst his peers. Accordingly, the group insisted that the North-east senatorial seat will be vacant in 2015 which the people are waiting for the governor to make a public declaration for endorsement by the people. But while Suswam has consistently maintained that the people are earnestly calling and waiting for a public declaration, he is however yet to decide and may likely respond when he is left with only a year to go in his tenure. Pundits are however of the view that the calls right from inception were conceived, packaged and sponsored by Suswam-led administratin. Those who hold strongly to this view pointed out the masterminds of the project which they insisted include the close associates and aides to Suswam. The last incident that threw open the matter was the recent launch and donation of cars to the coordinators representing the seven local government areas that constitute the senatorial zone in preparation for take- off of campaign in the zone. Though, Suswam was not present at the occasion, one of his close aides, who is the Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Solomon Wombo performed the presentation of the cars speculated to have been purchased and donated by the governor’s Special Adviser on MDGs, Mr. Timothy Arkyor as his contribution for the project. The ideal political sharing formula It was gathered that in the past, all the blocs within the zone had rotated the senatorial seat based on the existing political sharing formula but since the return of democracy about 14 years ago, Sankera where Suswam hails from had Senator Daniel Saror for eight years (1999-2007) while Jerchira zone had Senator Joseph Akaagerger and now Gemade for the second term. The Benue North-east senatorial district comprising of seven local governments that include Logo, Ukum, Ushongo, Katsina-Ala, Kwande, Vandeikya and Konshisha expediently amalgamated into three political blocs of, Kwande (Ushongo and Kwande ), Jerchira (Vandeikya and Konshisha) and Sankera (Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala). By political calculations of convenience, both Sankera and Jerchira have enjoyed the seat leaving only Kwande. This means that Kwande has the prerogative to producing a senator come 2015. But analysts are however of the view that Gemade as sitting senator has the advantage of seeking for re-election, a calculation that may knock off Suswam automatically. Calculations and strategies Unlike Gemade, who seems to have relaxed and preferred to be assessed by his performance at the senate for a second term, Suswam on the other hand seems not to be oblivious of the fact that his ambition may not be as easy as he would want against the backdrop of the fact that not only is his calculation tricky but his clan and zone may not be favoured by the political arithmetic adopted for the area. Similarly, another group led by a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Terfa Atir, who also hails from Kwande but believed to be acting a script written by Suswam by touring the area as part of effort to appeal to the people of Kwande to forfeit the position specifically for Suswam. Apart from that, it has been observed that having identified sons of Kwande, who may give him a tough fight including the former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Chief Mike Aondoakaa and the NAFDAC boss, Dr. Paul Orhii, the governor is believed to had sold a bait to the powerful politicians in the area that he is prepared to support any of them to succeed him as governor in 2015. So far, Kwande sons including, a former Director with the defunct NITEL, Chief Samuel Adaa Maagbe and former Group Managing Director/CEO Transcorp, Managing Director of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Kenya, Manaseh Denga have all indicated interest. But barring any last minute change and possible protest, Suswam stands a better chance to follow the footsteps of his estranged godfather and predecessor, Senator George Akume to retire to the senate after serving out his tenure as governor. However, if per adventure, the Kwande people throw a challenger from the opposition and Gemade teams up with other notable sons of Jerchira ward including the campaign Director General of Suswam in 2011, Dr. Terhemba Shija and Hon. Herman Hembe to work against their party, the PDP, then, Suswam may be edged out of the race at the main election. Hembe, had since the 2011 elections been at daggers drawn with Suswam while Shija is said to be in the gubernatorial race against the governor’s wish but with the intention to force Suswam, to adequately compensate him. But for now and until when Suswam publicly declares his intention, it remains at a ding dong game.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 20:55:04 +0000