Hir Joseph
22 November 2008
analysis
Makurdi — Except for the people who are now the judge between Governor Gabriel Tor-Suswam's 18 months administration in Benue State and the eight years of his predecessor, Senator George Akume, the story would have been different for the governor.
Mr. Clement Uhondo, a former lawmaker who was critical of Akume throughout his two terms as governor of Benue State, took a sudden 'U'-turn and praised his former punching bag to high heavens, turning his criticisms to Suswams's administration.
In a 36-page-document in September this year, Uhondo chronicled alleged corrupt practices against Governor Suswam and members of his cabinet, particularly Mr. Sam Ode, who is the governor's Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Mr. John Ngbede and that of Works, Housing and Transport, Engineer Mnena Shija.
The document titled: "Truth Versus Propaganda", was copied to relevant bodies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The petition alleged that there was no due process and inflation of figures in the award of contracts.
It also alleged that the governor has been awarding contracts to his 'cronies'. The open letter which compared the eight years of Akume to Suswam's one and a half years in office, was full of praises for the former governor. It, however, alleged that Suswam has, through the head of the newly created Bureau of Local Government, Sam Ode, cornered funds belonging to the 23 local governments including Excess Crude Proceeds and Value Added Tax (VAT). He also alleged that the Bureau which is under the office of the governor, purchased the latest models of Toyota Prado four-wheel Sub-Urban jeeps for traditional rulers in the state at an "outrageous" cost of N19million per unit.
Uhondo who alleged that in all, Suswam had stolen about N24 billion since he assumed office in May, 2007, said he had to reduce his allegations into writing because he made several efforts to see the governor without success. Also, Uhondo who got the document well publicised in the local media, repeatedly said those criticising his attitude were "not serious".
This development compelled Uhondo's immediate community in his Tiv-speaking Masev, Iharev and Nongov areas to call him to order, demanding that he must back his allegations with evidences. But Uhondo who reportedly promised withdrawing his document, did not burge after all, as he rather rushed to the High Court in Makurdi where he swore to an affidavit to stand by his allegations. Led by all traditional rulers, Uhondo's community decided to go public in their criticism of their son, believing that the critic was acting a script of those who were not comfortable with Suswam's performance in a short span of time.
"Uhondo should have stopped at making allegations of corruption against the governor, going further to compare Suswam with Akume's eight years is only a mischief that has ended up exposing him (Uhondo) as a tool in the hands of those who feel bad that the incumbent governor's performance has practically exposed his predecessor's eight years as those that may not have yielded anything for the Benue people", said Chief Ivokor Unongo, the Second Class ruler of Guma who addressed journalists on behalf of the community.
Reacting to the document, Suswam called it a tissue of lies and a mischievous attempt to arm-twist the government to succumb to cheap blackmail. In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Cletus Akwaya and the Adviser on Politics, Dr. Cletus Ityokyaa, the governor challenged his critic to come forward with evidence to support the allegations. The statement described Uhondo's allegations as "blackmail, malice and mischief".
In the ensuing debacle, Uhondo claimed that his teenage son, Manasseh Uhondo, was abducted by unidentified gunmen whom he linked to the state government. He, however, told the press later that his 'abducted son' was freed unhurt. But government's spokesman, Mr. Akwaya, again debunked this allegation, saying it was part of the series of the plot by Uhondo to blackmail the government to patronise him or a plot to rubbish the government. Uhondo's latest allegation equally attracted comments from many stakeholders who demanded that he must either back his claims with evidences or apologise.
Some groups and individuals also alleged that Uhondo was not the actual author of the petition. They claim that he was only made to sign the document and bear the brunt. However, those who came up with this theory have remained silent regarding those allegedly behind the letter. Speaking for the first time after a while of silence, former governor Akume distanced himself from Uhondo's document, saying he could not raise documents of any form including petitions against his successor.
The former governor who reiterated his appeal to Tivs to kill their penchant for petition writing to pull down one another, averred that the attitude has caused the people more harm than good. He said as a victim of petition writing from his fellow Tivs, he could say that the writers' motive was not to address ills, but to pull down their kinsmen who are in positions. He said petitions like the one by Uhondo have become common place among Tivs and therefore, warned against the act.
Akume reportedly spoke at the height of government's resolve to expose those behind the controversial document. Cletus Akwaya linked some un-named politicians with Uhondo, with a warning that they should desist or risk being exposed and prosecuted.
This threat is coming against the backdrop of calls by Senator Joseph Waku for investigations into the matter. Waku, in several media interviews, insisted that the EFCC must not fold its arms and watch, but take action by arresting Suswam's men who were mentioned in Uhondo's letter. According to him, the anti-graft agency has no justification over-looking the allegations since a similar situation led to the arrest of the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amechi.
On assumption of office, the governor had repeatedly said he would not engage in the culture of dragging the people's resources to the sharing table. Anti-corruption crusaders including former Lagos State police commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav and PDP chieftain, Dr. Godwin Dabo Adzuana, were among personalities in the state who hailed the governor's resolve. The duo had severally applauded Suswam's courage to starve the so called political leaders and statesmen who had got so much used to the system as obtained before.
In the words of Dr. Dabo, "some elders and statesmen used to take break fast, lunch and dinner in Government House. They are certainly not going to like the sweeping changes being initiated by Suswam."
Alhaji Tsav also told newsmen recently that the governor's problem emanated from his performance. "He has told us through his development strides that no matter how small, the funds drawn from the Federation Account can be applied to give the people a good standard of living." Tsav condemned Uhondo, describing him as "only a tool in the hands of those who are not happy with Suswam's achievements".
"I like Uhondo's courage but I am challenging him to be just in providing evidence to his allegations. He should do like I am doing, providing documents. Without documents, Uhondo is only proving himself a sponsored weapon against the governor. This is what we the Benue people will not tolerate," he said.
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