Samuel Ortom: The futile struggle of a drowning Governor (Opinion)

By; Comr. Benard Oche Ekwote

When Moshood Jimoh, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) spokesman sometime ago during a channel TV’s program described Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue State as a drowning politician looking for anything to crutch on in other to stay afloat, many of us blinded by mere sentiment and those with the hope that Gov. Ortom will clean his leadership mess in Benue and improve were calling for the “head” of the force spokesman for daring to address our executive governor in that manner, little did we know that Jimoh Moshood was as good as a prophet whom has foreseen and observed what we were yet to see in Ortom.

As the popular idoma proverb will have it; those that kill never allow others to bring a knife close to their neck, talk more of passing it through. They will always want to justify their deed and defend themselves through any means.

In Nigeria, it is also very difficult to see a man whom has committed a crime or done wrong to admit or take responsibility for such act. Even when caught in the act, outright denial, excuses or explanation that does not hold water is expected. It is uncommon to see a man caught red handed, arraigned in a court of law admitting or pleading guilty to the charges against him. Such a man must come up with a defense which in most cases baseless. He will always struggle to justify his wrong actions. He must deny doing any wrong even when convincing evidences nail him. And if available evidence (s) finally led to his conviction, he must struggle not to be sentence. He will at that point realize that justice had to be tempered with mercy. He will look for anything to hold unto as his reason for doing that wrong; whether reasonable or non, genieu or not, substantial or not.

The above analogy best describe the present situation and stand of Gov. Sam Ortom. He has failed woefully. He has failed a simple ‘leadership test’. He has done wrong to Benue civil servants/pensioners. His 3 years so far as a Governor is a total waste; no single developmental project or achievement to point at. He scored zero in his leadership scorecard.

Now that his abysmal performance and other convincing evidence (s) has passed a verdict upon him by confirming him guilty of leadership failure and poor performance, instead of simply admitting that fact and apologize to Benue people most especially civil servants and pensioners for enslaving and starving them, plead for clemency and forgiveness, he is busy putting up weak defence and excuses for his failure. He refused to admit that he has failed. He is busy looking for anything weather light or heavy to crutch on just to stay afloat in the political ocean he has found himself.

Initially, he and/or his supporters claimed the FG was fighting him because of his stand on the anti-open grazing law and I ask if he or Benue state was victimized by been denied the 3 tranches of bail out fund, Paris club fund and monthly FAAC released by the FG for worker’s salary.

When that propaganda refused to fly, he later claimed he couldn’t pay salary because he was servicing his erstwhile god father, Sen George Akume and APC and again ask if he was under any legal obligation to service Akume or APC. Does he swore to an oath on his inauguration day to be loyal to Sen. Akume or Benue people?

Knowing too well that he was about been consumed by his own wrong doing and his 2019 re- election bid is no longer guaranteed, he rushed and decamped to the PDP which was already gaining and winning the heart and sympathy of Benue People ahead of 2019 election.

He is now using the fund meant for Benue workers and pensioners to bribe his way to secure the PDP ticket for his re -election in 2019. Little did he know that Benue people are now more politically inclined, oriented and no longer gullible. Benue people now rely and bank on the credibility and competency of the aspirant (s), not political party’s.

The best the Governor could do at this point in time is to first and foremost apologize to Benue civil servants and pensioners for enslaving and starving them all this while, pay them their accrued wages, seek forgiveness and plead for clemency from them and God.

Power comes from God but the voice of the people is the voice of God, Ortom needs to make peace with the people first, makes them happy and plead for their support instead of jumping from here to there, offering baseless excuses for his failure and looking for any propaganda to hold unto.

Without the support and approval of majority of Benue citizens, Gov. Ortom needs not be told that his struggle to clinch the PDP ticket, get re- elected come 2019 is not only futile but vanity upon vanity.

As for me, family member (s), friends and the little number of voters that gives me listening ear, Ortom and PDP will not have our vote come 2019 if he succeeded in flying the party’s ticket.

My humble submission!!!!!!!!!!