There has been palpable tension in Kwande over the issue of
where the next elected council chairman will come from since Benue State
Independent Electoral Commission(BSIEC) released an electoral timetable fixing
the polls on 24th November, 2012.
The present Caretaker Chairman, Hon Terhile Iorchir is the
40th chairman of the 36th year old Local
government, but since 1989 when Ushongo Local government was carved out of
Kwande, sharing of elective positions
appear to follow a 'gentleman arrangement' among the four major clans. These
clans are Ikyurav, Nanev, Shangev and Turan.
Even with this, the bulk of the past chairmen in the local
government have been sole administrators, transition or caretaker chairmen. The
local government has only 7 elected councils since then. But Hon. Boniface Azer Ukende, the 20th and
4th Eelected chairman of the local government have advanced in his book, “The
aftermath of Kwande Political Crisis: Focus on chairmanship Zoning” which he
wrote in 2006 that “...my analysis of zoning will strictly be based on “
elected” .... chairmen of Kwande origin and not the appointees.”
He argued that, “one, the elected chairmen follow a due
process of zoning, nomination and final election by the people (Ityo) to a
particular component house. The process is repeated at another “turn” for
another component house to go in. But the appointees assume office by the whims
and caprices of the government of the day and they may not necessary be
indigenes of the local government.”
Ukende noted further that, “the elected chairmen are
answerable to their people (Ityo) whilst the appointees owe their loyalty and
allegiance to their mentors who appointed them”. That the Kwande people, “deem
appointment/ appointees as (igo toho) “ Bush pig”which is never offered on a
bride. They are largesse by the government in power. They can not be considered
as (igo ken ya) “domestic pig” which can be offered on a bride”
From the foregoing arguments, Hon Ukende concluded that,
“going by this principle, only elective positions are counted or considered
which (Ityo) the people undertake the due process of zoning, nominating and
electing”
Kwande Source News investigation discover that apart from
very few people who are outright against the principle of zoning, the majority
of Kwande people believe in the position
advanced by Hon Ukende.
The first elected chairman from Kwande under this arrangement
was Hon D D Buter. He was from Shangev-ya. His tenure lasted from1988 to1989.
The next elected chairman was from Turan. His name was Akombor Ande Akombor, he
lasted from 1991 to1993. The third was Hon S Agbur Kachi, Kachi was Nanev. He
was in power from 1996 to 1997. In 1997, Hon Boniface Azer Ukende from
Ikyurav-ya came on board as the next elected chairman. He was in power till
1997. The latter completed a round which many believed should be the sacrosanct
succession formula for Kwande as regards to chairmanship elections.
From the above revelation, KSN learnt that it was designed as a tradition by Kwande
politicians that Shangeya-ya starts,
Turan follows, Nanev comes third and Ikyurav-Ya comes last to complete a
“round” among the four clans, after which another round starts afresh.
When the fourth republic commenced in 1999, attempts were
made by Kwande politicians to maintain this principle. But shortly after they
took off, events conspired against them and have enmeshed this process in a
confusion which is challenging its sacrosanct pretentions.
In 1999 Hon Denis Dzeka from Shangev-ya was elected as the
fifth chairman to begin what many have called “second round”. They reasoned
that after Dzeka from Shangev-ya, then
it would have been the turn of Turan. Nanev and Ikyurav following as it was
laid down in the first round.
The first blow to this system was the death of Hon Dzeka in
2000 just a year into his term. Since the constitution of Nigeria and Local
government laws in Benue don't recognise zoning, Dzeka's vice chairman, a man
from Ikyurav-ya, Tyoule Akende took over. There was a strong argument that
Ikyurav had prematurely had their turn. For by the provisions of the first
round principle, they always come
last, just after Nanev.
Hon Ukende argued against this conclusion. In his book,
quoted earlier, he said, “many people will recall vividly that there was
agitation as to where the second round should kick start. But it was
unanimously resolved that it should go back to the initial take off point.
Consequent upon that, the second round began again with Shangev-ya (Ipusu)
where Hon. Denis T. Dzeka was duly elected from 29th May, 1999 to 27th August
2000(died on the seat) becoming the fifth elected chairman (and in fact the 2nd
for Shangev-ya) produced in the Local
government area”
He concluded his arguments, not putting the tenure completion
of Hon Akende in to consideration,
thus, “Shangev-ya now has two elected chairmen. This was the reason why without
much ado the zoning for the sixth elected chairman favoured Turan (Ichongo) in
the 27th March, 2004 election. This is acceptable arrangement that from
Shangevya the seat normally moves to Turan.”
He said that, “in so far as the election was nullified, the
vacuum created in Turan by the said nullification is still there irrespective
of any appointment done in the interim”
Many people argued against this latter conclusion by Hon
Ukende as it relates to March 27th 2004 election and Hon Tyoule Akende . An
elder told KSN that the 2004 election brought up a “special” issue against the
strict arguments for none inclusion of “appointment of Chairmen” in Kwande
zoning principle as it has been advanced
by Hon Ukende because Hon Tersur
Yachiga, the presumed “winner” of the election was subsequently given his
mandate. The elder who preferred to remain anonymous argued that, since it was
an open secret that Hon Yachiga was the winner of the annulled election; his
reinstatement was obviously the normalization of the process.
Many politicians like Dr Teen, from Shangev Ya and Mr Bem Agbur Kachi from
Nanev, believe that such arguments may be logical but, if they allowed to sail
through, will only sow seeds of
discord in Kwande. Speaking in Jato Aka recently during the declaration of Hon
Raymond Anumve for Chairmanship election, Dr Teen stated that what they have
believed is simple, and that is the next chairman will be coming from Turan. For according to him, they
are yet to produce their second elected chairman.
Others believe that the issue of Tyoule Akende could not be
ignored and moreso, if Hon Hanior Henda an Ikyurav man was sole Administrator
as about this time, it were better for Kwande to maintain their sacrosanct
principle by accepting that Turan were yet to produce their second elected
council chairman.
When council elections were conducted in 2007 and it was not
a Turan man that won, but Hon Terlumun Akputu from Nanev, the final blow to the
zoning system was given. In the old arrangement, after Turan, it is Nanev, so
why did Turan allow what they called their turn to go Nanev in 2007?
In a open letter to Hon Bem Tseen and the people o Kwande, a
political group by name “consensus youth for the survival of Suswam/ Lawani
2011, Kwande local government Chapter, believed to be a brain child of Mr
Terseer Apuu ,revealed that, “the truth remains that the Ikyurav aisxis has an
overwhelming advantage over the Turan district concerning the 2012-2014
chairmanship tickect....because the Turan axis sold its chance to Nanev Via Hon Terlumun Akputu..”, he noted
that, “political elders from Turan like the likes of Ihom Chaver, Orya Korinjo
to mention just but a few publicly supported Akputu who subsequently won the
ticket”
Hon Bem Tseen, one of the contestants from Turan who
contested against Akputu has called such arguments as “falsehood”. He told KSN
that the zoning system in Kwande might be slightly affected but the Ikyurav
people have no technical advantage over Turan as it relates 2012 polls. Basing
his arguments on Ukende's book, he said even when Gon Gire acted as Ter Kwande
for years, but since it was the turn of
Shangev, there was no arguments when he was made the substantive Ter Kwande.
He said the issue of Akende is clear. He was elected on a
joint ticket with Dzeka as such, his later assumption to the chairmanship can
not be viewed as an appointment. Hon Anumve who supports this position has
observed that as it stands, Shangev has two elected,(Buter and Dzeka), Turan
has one ( Akombor Ande), Nanev has two(Kachi and Akputu) and Ikyurav has two(
Ukende and Akende).
Adding his voice,
another Kwande PDP chieftain in Jato Aka
revealed that “Hon Akpupu's brand of politics in Kwande was a
novelty in so many respects. He was
forceful and intimidating. As a result, he created a lot of problems,
especially for insistence to grab Turans turn. So now that he is out of the
way, Kwande should quietly go back and start on the right note.
Secret
Document
KSN has though gathered reliably from some Kwande political
fathers that after the Kwande Crisis , Kwande elders attended a meeting where
Turan elders agreed and signed a secret document that if Hon Tersur Yachiga was made a Transition
Chairman, they would admit
that the zoning system was once
again normalised. They said that was why Ikyurav people voted against Turan in
2007. All attempts to see the document proved abortive, but we gathered that
all Ikyurav delegates voted for Akputu in 2007. Turan elders have argued
against the existence of such a document.
Shangev ya
Hon Adzua Ashongo has told our reporters that the next
chairman should come from Shangev ya in compensation to Denis Dzeka whose
tenure was caught shot by death. Hon Ashongo who argued emphatically that Turan
were out of the picture since they benefitted for four years before 2007 in Hon
Bem Tseen and Tersur Yachiga, has gotten their turn. “do you think it was a
mistake that Akputu won the election in 2007? It was a collective decision of
Kwande that the Turan gets their turn which was cancelled at the nullification
of the 2004”. He agreed that ordinarily, it would have been Ikyurav turn but,
they benefitted Shangev turn in Akende when Dzeka died. “it was ment to be a
three years term butDzeka died just a year and Akende enjoyed those years. So
it has become imperative that we Shangev have our turn.”
He said when President Umaru Musa Yar Adua from the north
died, PDP from this wisdom zoned the seat back to the North in compensation for
the death. They noted quite rightly that, to Ashongo, that the turn of the
north was truncated and so should be restored. “That was what should have
happened in 2007. Shangev should have had their turn, but it was shifted to
Turan and they benefitted from it, then Nanev turn came and Akputu won so now
it is only right for Ikyurav who have
earlier benefitted from Shangev turn to
return it.” He argued.
Ashongo took on Turan people and argued that they have taken
other clans in Kwande for granted. “Do
the Turan people think we are mad or fools? In 1999 MAT Gbande was elected
house of Reps from Zone B, the seat went to Ushongo and when it returned to
Kwande it went back to Turan people, so what is so strange that chairman will
move from Nanev to Shangev?'” he queried.
There
is No Zoning
Meanwhile, so many people appear not to be interested in the
zoning arguments. To them, the most credible person with the vision to lead Kwande should be given the
opportunity. Mr Tersoo Akula, one of those who believe Kwande most move forward
has argued that, the time to mortgaged the the future of Kwande over frivolous
issues like zoning was over. He said, Kwande people must not repeat the mistake
of entrusting their future in the hands of visionless leaders.
Adding is voice on
this, Mr Ngutor Anyam, a contestant on the platform of ACN told KSN that,
though it is Turans turn, he doesn't believe in zoning. He argues that zoning
breeds “mediocrity”. In a chat with our reporters in his Makurdi office the
suveryor said, “My party ACN is looking forward in putting their best foot
forward. We believe in rendering quality services to the people.”
He also noted that as the most popular in Kwande, ACN can not
give a mandate, it must be to only those who knows the weight of what ACN wish
to bring to the people. “My party is looking out for people with the capacity
to deliver on its welfarist manifesto. This could be anybody. It must not be
for sectional or sentimental bases”, he said.
To him such
'ya na angbian” politics had only taken the people backward. To him “eating”
as the
Tiv word YA is literally translated does not sound appealing to him as
an administrative concept. That people who have capable leaders. Leaders who
are doing their duties, will not be thinking of sectional or clannish when
looking for leaders.
Since all political parties have scheduled their primaries in
September, in line with BSIEC guidelines, posters of different politicians have
littered the major towns of Kwande, especially, Adikpo, Jato Aka and Ikyogen.
The Contestants
KSN investigation reveals that the following are contenders
in the election, Hon. Mker Shimave, Hon. Bem Tseen, Hon. Raymond Anumve (PDP,
Turan). Others are Hon Viashima Akombor Ande and Mrs IKpambese and Ngutor Anyam
(ACN,Turan).
From Ikyurav axis are
Hon. D.N Tamen, Hon. Mrs Lydia Suleh, Hon. Pastor Anyor Ikyor, Hon.
Justine Amase, Hon. David Kumbur and Emmanuel Jumpa(PDP); also are Andy Ovande
and Hon. Tyor(ACN).
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