Why Ortom may not return as Benue governor in 2019 – Akperashi

Benue State politician, Chief John Akperashi Gum, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, but recently returned to the Peoples Democratic Party ahead 2019 general elections. He speaks with CEPHAS IORHEMEN about his defection to the PDP and other issues

Why did you leave APC?

First of all, I came into APC because of my grievance with PDP. I did not belong to PDP in the first instance. I was running for election for House of Representative and the present governor was canvassing for vote on the platform of the PDP. Both of us ran on the same party. The governor of the state is somebody I had known for long time. We have been friends for over 20 years. When he was council chairman in Guma Local Government, we grew up under the tutelage of Paul Unongo. So, when the governorship issue came up, initially we wanted power shift to Zone C and I was saddled with that responsibility.

He asked me to go and search for someone from the axis without any rancour or affection. Sam Ode, the former Minister of Niger Delta was readily available and I suggested him to Suswam because he was more acceptable. So, in the long run, the issue of Zone C did not fly. We sat down and told him why it was not possible and he asked that within the zone who is capable and I told him Ortom, for personal reasons because we have been friends and started a printing press together.

What is your view on Governor Ortom’s stay in APC up till now?

I know very well that Governor Ortom is not comfortable in the APC. If he is pretending that there is no problem, it is either he is just playing along or playing to the gallery. He is just buying time to take his decision and at the appropriate time, he will leave. But he has the resources so he can do whatever he has at any time but some of us are still growing. If what is happening in the APC continues, I do not see him winning elections in 2019. Yes, he has done his best and I give him kudos for that. I have said it often that put Suswam and Ortom side by side, he has done well more than the former in terms of protecting the lives of his people and fighting herdsmen because of the law he collaborated with Benue people to sign.

This has made him to clash with the party at national level. Suswam and Akume have friends who are Muslims and Fulani and so, they are been cautions but Ortom is not. He is always here and his interest does not go beyond Lafia, his farms and other businesses are all here. So he does not give a damn, unlike Suswam who does not have businesses here and Akume who has made friends across the country. If for all these he should be applauded but this does not translate to transformation or social welfare.

Which political party are you moving to?

The moment I resigned from APC, the SDP people came in their droves and going by what is happening the SDP cannot wrestle party from the APC. What is today APC started as AC, ACN and then metamorphose to APC. So, I am not prepared to start building bridges. So I need to go back to the party that I have structure and friends and where my friend Suswam is. PDP will come out with a campaign of salary issues so they will come with assurances that they will clear it and address the grievances of the youths.

Is this possible with Akume there?

Akume is fighting a battle of his life. If you know what is happening in Zone B, you wouldn’t have said so. If Ortom falls apart with Suswam that would be the end if Akume because automatically the MINDA people will go with Ortom. Even as I talk to you he may lose Gwer where Hingah Biem is in control. All of them have moved to SDP. One local government is out of Akume’s hands there is no message that you take to them that they will listen to you. If you go to Buruku, the people feel a sense of dominance. So, at least, one of their own (Emmanuel Orker Jev) is contesting and the man will have his own support. Another local government has gone off his hands. Makurdi is a metropolitan city and it can go to anywhere. Gboko is another area that is divided.

The former SSG is there. The people are angry that their son was denied SSG. So Akume has to put his feet firm. So if he goes along with the governor, it is 50-50. If he does not go with the governor, it is 30-70.

So have you reconciled with Gabriel Suswam?

We have reconciled. When I lost my House of Representative nomination, I accused Suswam of being responsible. Then, the people told Suswam that he wanted to go for Senate meant for Kwande and I wanted to go for House of Representative. So, if after four years in the Senate when you would finish your apprenticeship, you will vacate the seat for Kwande.

But he was stubborn and made me lose my candidacy. So when I was stopped I vowed that PDP would not win a single vote in Kwande. All the House of Assembly members from my area I sponsored them to prove a point to him so that tomorrow two of us can reconcile. So it came to pass and he realised that he would have allowed me had my way and he would have gone to the Senate. But some persons deceived him and caused enmity between us. He regretted it.

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