SUSWAM: THE PEOPLE'S MAN OF THE YEAR
As the year 2012 draws to an expected close I have had cause to reminiscent about leaders who inspired people in the year both home and abroad. On the international scene, the choice is inevitably the United States’ President Barack Obama who undisputedly won a second term to lead the world’s most powerful nation despite daunting challenges. Back at home, I must confess that my first choice is at the level of my state in the person of the governor, the Rt. Hon. Gabriel Suswam who has shown that one can dare to be different in a country where collective despair is a tendency. Even though, he is the governor of a state, Suswam is also the one person in whom we find a source of inspiration at the national level and I hope I would not be accused of being partial in this matter. But I make bold to say that my choice of Suswam was dictated by what he has been proven to have achieved during his service to the nation as a member of the House of Representatives and for the duration of his ongoing governorship in Benue state.
It is remarkable that Gabriel Suswam attained whatever it is he has been able to achieve today without being anyone’s “Yes Man”. This is evident in his stance during the infamous attempt to amend the constitution to allow the then President Obasanjo stand office for a third term. During these challenging days, Suswam placed national interest above party and individual interest to ensure that what Nigerians want eventually triumphed. A further source of pride is that fact that he is among the very few who survived politically after confronting Obasanjo.
Considering his large heart and very peaceful posture I would not conclude that Suswam is a man of wars but I am aware that he has left some actors in the political scene with permanent punches that will take them time to heal. Not only did Suswam triumph over the opposition led by Akume in Benue state, he was able to deliver the North-Central vote wholesale for President Goodluck Jonathan during the elections of 2011. It is of interest to note that Rt. Hon Suswam, like Obama taking flak from Republicans and Tea Partiers, was able to record laudable achievements despite contending with distractions from the opposition and those who daily criticize his administration, this approach to criticism and distractions explains why he was able to survive his fall out with his estranged predecessor, George Akume. Rt. Hon Gabriel does not win his battles by propaganda and campaign of calumny, his armies are the very citizens of Benue State who benefit from his even spread of projects across the nooks and crannies of the state.
The present composition of functionaries in and outside Benue State shows that opposition is now dead in the State and anyone who attempts to go further is on his own to Golgotha. Dr. Iyorchia Ayu and Col Joseph Akergerger (rtd) have all returned back to the fold of mainstream politics in Benue State to join forces with Rt. Hon Gabriel Suswam in moving the state forward. Many analysts have continuously argued that the elder statesmen have returned to pursue their political ambition ahead of 2015, I am however of the considered national interest that the duo must have first realized that irrespective of any dream or ambition they intend to pursue in the future, Rt. Hon Suswam still remains in a better position to present them to the people having defeated their guns in the past. They should also be advised that the celebrations that thrilled their return to the People’s Democratic Party in Benue State should not be misused or abused to pull the state down in anyway.
He again recently demonstrated that his style of pitching his tent with the people is now a one off thing as he dismissed those already talking about the 2015 elections as being diversionary. “This is a time for good governance without which we will remain stagnant. It’s idiotic for anyone to begin to discuss 2015 now.” He had responded to a question about the possible lineup of candidates for the elections. His response is in no way abusive of anyone given the explanation he offered: talks of 2015 elections this early are distracting for those elected into office. This is wisdom for a man who has demonstrated that he is eager to transform the lot of the people in his state as evident in the way he has transformed the state.
There is every conviction that Rt.Hon Gabriel Suswam deserves to be named as the Man of the Year 2012 considering how difficult it has been in Africa to conduct credible elections that can satisfy international standard. He held Nigerians and members of the international community hostage in reasoning that a free, fair and transparent election is still possible in Nigeria by supervising the most peaceful, rancor free and transitional process that saw democratically elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors taking oath of office a week ago.
Rt. Hon Gabriel Suswam has achieved a rare feat that has been practically impossible in Anambra State for the past 6 years and set an unbeatable record that will take Professor Attahiru Jega and his men more than 10years to surpass. According to a report released by the Common Wealth Monitors and G10, “what transpired in Benue during the council is a testimony to the fact that Suswam remains a true covenant keeper with the oath and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, what we saw as a team in Benue State during the elections in terms of early arrival of materials, ballot papers with security marks, accreditation and voting proper, counting, accurate collation and transparent results that reflected the people’s wishes are highly exceptional and commendable.”
The umpire at the end of the day in recalling the brain behind their success story mentioned the fact that the Suswam led administration did not anytime interfere with their activities after the release of funds and I think Rt. Hon Gabriel Torwua Suswam deserves another national award for this again.
This perhaps explains why the one single issue that was enough to earn Governor Suswam my admiration was his contribution to peace building and security of lives and property. One can attribute this on one hand to the spinoff effect of projects aimed at improving the quality of lives of citizens which has paid off with the reduction of crime rate in the state. On the other hand is his impartial stance that translated to practical peace building effort that has led to a drastic reduction in communal clashes.
I want to particularly commend the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under the supervision of Prince Solomon Wombo. In the past this ministry was used as a conduit pipe that coordinates systemic corruption to rob the public purse instead it has transformed to a supersonic jet machine for grassroots transformation. It is on record that in the year 2012 the Local Governments were the first to get the annual provision of subsidized fertilizers to farmers in the state. Wombo has implored strategies to ensure uniformity in projects across the Local Government Areas, financial autonomy for the councils, zero tolerance for corruption and effective functionality of the third tier of government to serve the generality of our people.
Why Rt. Hon Gabriel Torwua Suswam is the people’s man of the year 2012 is not only because he is governing a state and telling the world that Benue people are not difficult to please, he is touching lives, he is aware that governance is not a rocket science so he is at home and everywhere to solve problems. He connects with his people as a respected Nigerian politician without boundaries, as a lawyer he is intelligent and all round in knowledge, as a performer the country has considered him worthy as a recipient of one of the highly reverend national awards in the land, being a grassroots mobilize par excellence Rt. Hon Gabriel Suswam has won election 4 times in 12 years and no doubt about the fact that he will win more again.
As the world is now aware, amongst the factors that stand Rt. Hon Gabriel Torwua Suswam tall above others in the society is the availability of a sound, intelligent and beautiful mother in the kitchen. While it might not be right to conclude Suswam as the Best Governor that our dear state has produced in recent times, it is clear that Deaconess Yemisi Dooshima Suswam remains the Best Governor’s wife that the state has been blessed to witness since its inception. Apart from managing the Governor’s private life, she is always in the news for coming to the rescue of the less privileged in the society, empowering the women and educating them on their rights, campaign against the spread of HIV/AIDS, child abuse and adjudged by the women to be the most passionate within the corridors of power in Benue State.
The year runs to a close and I am glad that there is hope for the people of my state as a new year rolls in. While I am inspired by the work that Gabriel Suswam is doing as the governor of Benue state and a statesman politician in the country, I look forward to his exceeding my expectation and creating a benchmark by which future governors of the state would be assessed.
Written By Comrade Philip Agbese