WEDNESDAY COLUMN BY USSIJU MEDANER
info@medaner.com | justme4justice@yahoo.com
The ruling APC family in Benue state appears to be in disarray and visible turmoil in the last few days, reaching a crescendo with the governor literally throwing out all cautions, and pushing out all actions to establish what he, perhaps, erroneously assumes is his sole party leadership in the state. This much, his decisions to effectively clampdown on every structure he considers not succumbing to his authority, has turned the state, that is just recovering from a long period of insecurity, thanks to President Tinubu’s direct onslaught against banditry and cattle rustling in the North central, yet again into a battlefield of the sort that fizzles social cohesion of the state and takes away chances at delivering dividends of democracy to the abiding citizens and great people of the state.
So, why are we here? Why should we be discussing this unproductive and unprofessional issue at a time when the country and the state is struggling to overcome many challenges? How did the governor and his advisers come to the decision to launch an outright attack against the governor’s perceived competitor in the person of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF in the person of George Akume? Where is the justified cause for the unprovoked attacks? What is the governor afraid of? Does he think he would not win any other election in the state except he discredits those who have continued to shape the political landscape of the country since 1999, inclusive of that of APC, and who have provided ladders for many inclusive of him to climb to power in the state?
Let’s be frank, the bone of the issue in Benue state currently is CONTROL. The governor has apparently been ill-advised by those who want to profit from the disorganisation in the ruling party; that he must establish sole control over the party structures in the state. And surprisingly, a man of his calibre, coming from a Catholic background that teaches and understands the intricacies of leadership control, subordination and respect, easily allows himself to become a pawn in the hands of the enemies of the party and people of the state.
More than any other person, the governor should understand the rudiments of power and control. Like authority, they are not forced, they are earned. The SGF has been a chosen political leader by the people of the state since time immemorial. No one has become a governor since 1999 without climbing on his back; and even when they became power drunk, the governor apparently is now, they have always crawled back to him, and like the leader he is, he always welcomes them back.
Would the SGF abandon Benue politics and stop playing the leadership role he has forever played because the governor appears threatened all of a sudden? No! It is only a leader who is in the game for selfish purposes that will succumb to such. The Political landscape of the state would continue to succumb to his leadership for as long as he remains selfless and priotises the development of the state above personal considerations. He is not seeking to remain relevant from all consideration; he has built the platform for relevance for himself in the state and would forever, even though he is long gone from the scene, remain relevant in the political calculations in the state. He is not interested in the resources of the state coming to his pocket; but he will not give up on the state’s drive and struggles for a full and speedy development.
At this point, I must clearly reiterate that APC Benue is of immense importance to APC national. The state remains the only Christian dominated state that overwhelmingly voted for the APC presidential flag bearer in the last election, despite the orchestrated fake rush and almost successful campaign for the church to take over the country for the candidate of the Labour Party. The state is important to APC; and we must do everything necessary to calm the nerves of all warring parties within and outside the party fold. Infact, as the father that he has always been and in the interest of the much needed atmosphere for development and social cohesion of the state, the SGF is not drawing any weapon, and is set to draw the governor closer, the moment his eyes open to see the governor taking the wrong route to search for what is not missing.
The governor is advised to take heed sensibly. He was presented with trust by people who believe he can lead the state away from the maldevelopment of the past administration and the people of Benue who thronged out as usual to support the candidates of the man they always trust and believe in, that is, George Akume. He cannot afford to disappoint, or at worst, betray all the trust imposed on him. There must be a point where the governor would retract his steps and that point is now! Fighting your own party structure in the state the way he has chosen is not sustainable for the sake of everyone.
The governor must remember how he was handpicked and given party ticket on a platter of gold by the same man he is making an enemy out of today. He must recognise that even though his benefactor shielded him by not allowing him go through the much rigours of party politics, such magnanimity must not be abused nor misinterpreted as as party structure that is powerless. Every member of the party, including the governor is by the constitution of the party subjected to the party; the party is supreme and remains so.
Attempts to stiffen the operations of the party until he can assume full control of its machineries would not only work, but would backfire on all instigators. The governor must beware. The NWC must wake up to its responsibilities and rein in the governor to order.
I call on Mr. President once again sees the reason to quickly intervene to restore order to the state considering the sensitive weight the state brings to APC in terms of electoral value which I mentioned earlier. I trust his intervention, just like in Rivers State, will mark boundaries for all players and saves the state from impending disasters.
Finally, the church, most especially the Catholic, must respond by calling the governor, who is of its fold to order. Even in politics, leadership and influences are recognised and respected. The governor’s action as of now is a betrayer but it is never too late to be retracted.
In the event that the governor insists on taking over and weaponising the state’s security apparatus against his own party, then, we must all wait for him at the only place where he would be alone. This is because democracy is a collaborative enterprise. Then, his case would be that of a dog that want to get lost; it would not hear the whistle of the hunter.
A word they say is enough for the wise.
