By Abrahams Kwaghngu
As the tempo of political activities across the country gathers momentum, political gladiators and support groups across the country have been unrelenting in pushing for their interests against the backdrop of the release of schedule and guidelines of the 2023 elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC based on the recently signed Electoral Act.
In Benue State, permutations, strategizing and re-alignment of political alliances have taken centre-stage especially since Governor Samuel Ortom responded favourably to the massive pressure mounted on him by various groups to contest the Benue Zone ‘B’ Senate seat in 2023.
The political harmony being experienced in the Benue State Chapter of the PDP can be attributed to the Governor’s leadership values which is anchored on Justice, fairness and equity as well as the fear of God.
Governor Samuel Ortom’s impressive national political profile and his inclusive governance style have remained a great asset to the PDP as it strategizes on its rescue mission at the national level and retention of power in Benue come 2023.
In the run-up to the PDP National Convention late 2021, Governor Ortom worked hard by prevailing on his colleagues and PDP leaders in the Northcentral to support the emergence of Senator Iyorchia Ayu as the PDP Chairman as well as his efforts in ensuring that the last PDP congress in Benue State was successful and rancour free.
In Benue State, Governor Ortom has helped in uniting the PDP and its leaders into a formidable political platform equipped to retain the state and also work towards rescuing the nation from the present state of economic stagnation and insecurity, due to nearly 7 years of poor governance that has taken the country from top to bottom in nearly all socio-economic indices. The PDP has been strengthened to win back power in 2023 for the wellbeing of the masses.
Governor Ortom is working harmoniously with the PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, Senators Gabriel Suswam, Orker Jev, Abba Moro, Senator David Mark, Members of the National and State Assemblies as well as Party Elders.
On critical State and National issues, the Benue State Governor has always carried along these aforementioned critical stakeholders. In the same vein, he also regularly consults with the traditional establishment and religious leaders in a bid to deepen inclusive governance.
Governor Ortom’s appointment by the PDP to chair various committees over the past several months is in recognition of his leadership principles, political skills, statesmanship and charisma. His national profile has been on the rise as party leaders have been visiting him in Benue for 2023 consultations. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State chose to visit Benue to declare his presidential ambition followed by the trio of Senator Bukola Saraki, former Senate President, Governors Aminu Tambuwal and Bala Mohammed of Sokoto and Bauchi States respectively.
They were in Benue State in continuation of their push for the adoption of a consensus 2023 Presidential candidate for the Party. In February this year, Governor Ortom was appointed Chairman of the FCT Area Councils Campaign Council with other notable leaders as members.
At the end of the exercise, the PDP won 3 Area Councils including the Abuja Metropolitan Area Council against the APC which also won 3. The PDP’s victory against testifies to the Governor’s understanding of political dynamics and issues-based campaign.
Shortly after, the PDP again appointed Governor Ortom to chair its Campaign Council for the Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency bye-election in Plateau State which the PDP won convincingly.
He was also Chairman of a committee of political chieftains set up to wade into the crisis in the Edo State Chapter of the PDP. This committee finally brokered a reconciliation recently where all contending issues were successfully resolved with the Edo PDP united.
Governor Samuel Ortom has also been involved in anchoring reconciliation committees for enduring peace in Plateau, Nasarawa and Niger States chapters of the PDP where some of the Party stalwarts who left the Party are already returning back to the fold. It takes a practical political leader with deep understanding of socio-economic, political and governance issues to succeed in these assignments.
Recently, the 37-member committee chaired by Governor Ortom to fashion out a formula through which the Party’s candidate for the Presidency will emerge have concluded its assignment and submitted its report to the National Working Committee for final decision by the National Executive Committee.
It is noteworthy that the meetings of the zoning committee hosted by the Benue Governor has always been in an atmosphere of harmony and mutual respect.
Given Governor Ortom’s performance in various sectors such as education, road construction, primary health care, water supply, enactment of the law on prohibition of open grazing and ranches establishment, the domestication of the Pension Law in Benue which would permanently solve the problem of challenges of payment of pensions has remain leadership legacies.
The PENCOM Law provides for a contributory pension to ensure that our senior citizens get their entitlements after retirement. Others are payment of salaries as resources are made available while efforts are being made to clear the inherited arrears, the Ortom administration’s initiation of the Benue Geographic Information Service, BENGIS in the Ministry of Lands and Survey.
The project has transformed land administration in the State and would help boost the real estate sector when completed this year, this is despite the economic downturn caused by several factors which has affected the State’s revenue.
Benue needs a proactive representative at the National Assembly with good knowledge of the workings of modern governance through legislative institution. It has become necessary therefore, for all well meaning people of Benue State to support the Governor’s senatorial aspiration so he can continue to serve them courageously.
Abrahams Kwaghngu,
Principal Special Assistant
on Special Duties to the Benue State Governor