QUESTION: You have come to make your marks as one of the consistent young men in
the state; visionary and outspoken. One who calls a spade a spade and ready to
fight for the course of his people. Recently, you declared too, the Zone “A”
Senate is for Kwande. Are you still maintaining your position?
Answer: Why not? Yes…. Why not. Who is the person
contesting that reality? I have said it without apologies to any one individual
or group of persons. Anybody who does not feel comfortable with this claim,
that’s his own cup of tea to sip. I believe strongly PDP respects zoning. The
party recognizes order and farness. It is on this basis that most elective
positions are today occupied by various individuals who had benefited from the
zoning arrangement that the party has entrenched. In fact this issue of the
senate in Zone ‘A’ goes with an aura of great insults to Kwande people. Can you
imagine that Kwande, the most dependable political bloc, most popular and
politically most enlightened from Zone ‘A’ have not had a shot at the Senate!
This is unbelievable. Then after all the manipulations, after all the
marginalization, deliberate innuendoes, denials and schemes, the chance has at
last naturally presented itself and then someone would wake up and shout Kwande
people down?
I, Chief John Akperashi Gum have not
seen yet, such a person that would dare say it is not the turn of the Kwande people
to take a shot at the Senate. This is the time; it is the moment; it is the
hour. Indeed it is the time and a very ripe time unarguably for Kwande for the
Senate. So I’m still saying and I repeat; the Zone ‘A’ Senate seat belongs to
Kwande. No more, no less.
Question:
but we hear you are very close to person is in dare need of the seat even though
he is not from Kwande.
ANSWER: Cuts
in… who is that? Who is that friend of mine? Who is he other than from Kwande
to contest and is eligible?
Question:
we hear
your friend, the governor has already constituted his campaign team for the
senate comprising of some very top government officials from zone ‘A’ who are
going all over canvassing support for the governor for the senate race.
Answer:
Well, I’m not aware of that, I’m not aware if the governor whom is presumed by
you to be my very close friend is nursing such an ambition to the extent of
inaugurating a campaign team. And I would not like to talk or respond to
assumptions.
Question:
we hear recently you convoked a Kwande/Ushongo summit which was suddenly
forcefully put off by the security operatives on the orders of the governor who
felt threatened that you were going to conscientize kwande people over the
senate issue against his position and ambition.
Answer: Well,
it is true that I moved to host a Kwande/Ushongo summit along side Hon. Onov
Tyuulugh. The purpose was to chart a Kwande political course and attempt taking
a position over some basic political issues. It was not held for security
reasons as advanced and advised by the Directorate of the S.S.S. however, to an
extent that the governor was behind it, I’m hearing it for the first time. So
you can tell me further. If it was true as claimed and speculated. What was the
governor’s fears?
Question:
That was the news all over the town. And many believed it because the SSS were
able to abort the summit.
Answer: We
also heard other versions other than what you are saying. Did you get to know
the position of the KWUPO over that meeting? What about the party, ANC who also
came out with their own interpretation of the meeting. My friend, the summit
did not hold as planned. It is not late though so I think that should not be an
issue.
Question:
Many still think it is an issue because the governor was believed to have
stopped the summit and that is why we want to know.
Answer: Good.
That would be your lots to do. You have to enquire from the Governor if you
believed he was the brain behind putting off the summit. Go, find out from him
because I would not be in a position to tell you. Someone else was purported to
have stopped a meeting for his own reasons and you are asking someone else to
clarify so how would I know?
Question:
But then on a serious note; you are insisting that the Zone ‘A’ Senate is for
Kwande so would you maintain your grounds if your friend, the governor decides
to come out from Sankera to contest?
Answer: I
honestly don’t see any basis or how Suswam’s interest in the senate precludes
the stark reality that the senate is for Kwande. Suswam just like any other
person from kwande qualified to vie for or indicate interest for the senate.
These are two different ball-games. What I, Chief John Akperashi has been
saying is that, everybody can indicate interest. Everybody can inaugurate a
campaign team and bent on contesting but it must be told and accepted and
established that this senate at this moment belongs to Kwande.
But in the first instance, why are you
only emphasizing on governor Suswam? Has Barnabas Gemade told you he is no
longer contesting? He is from Konshisha. It is usually an 8-year term mandate
for each constituency. Chief Gemande had gone to do four year tenure to
complete his Jechira brother’s 8-year mandate that was punctured. Chief Joseph
Akaagerger had spent four years earlier. The people expressed dissatisfaction
with his outings and moved to reclaim the seat. We all said yes, he can be
recalled but in the spirit of equity and for play, let the Jechira complete
their slot. In the wake of this, his elder brother, Chief BAI Gemande was
saddled with the responsibility to complete his younger brother’s mandate which
is about spending. Consequently, Jechira would have completed their
conventional 8-year mandate and thereby passing the baton to Kwande, the most
populous from that axis that is yet to take a shot at any given time. But as we
speak, we hear Gemande is also not only indicating interest but determined to
go back. So you can see, it is not only the governor that is purported of
wanting this senate that is clearly for Kwande.
Question:
so, in the event of Suswam and Gemade all coming out, who shall you, support?
Answer: Gemade
is from Jechira Federal constituency who would have completed their 8-year
mandate. Suswam is from Sankera Federal Constituency. Sankera has made senate
over and over again. So the two personalities justifiably and logically are
zoned out. So if you ask me, I shall only support a Kwande son because as I
told you, the senate is for Kwande.
Question:
But so far, we have not heard of any Kwande son coming out to declare for the
senate yet you are clamoring for a Kwande Senate…
Answer: (Cuts
in)… Have you heard the governor whom you are claiming has already inaugurated
his campaign organization come out to declare for the senate? But I think I
know what your worry is over this matter so let me help you out. You want to
hear from me emphatically if I shall be ready to confront the governor in case
he decides to run for the senate in zone ‘A’ rightly belongs to Kwande. The
people must accept this and get it deeply into their heads the PDP exco must
also declare so. Then if the dust is cleared, the wind would blow unhindered.
If in the long run no Kwande son comes up as you are saying or even if one
happens to come out we shall in the finals analyses listen to Chief Gemade’s
sermon. We shall also equally hear Suswan’s toast. If any of the two makes more
meaning to Kwande’s and it is resolved that the senate be loaned out, then that
shall be.
At this point we shall take stock of
how Suswam as a governor has touched Kwande sons and indeed, Kwande Local Government
in general as well, how Gemade as a senator in his own capacity has been able
to change the face of his constituency and constituents. And mind you, this
shall not just be a breakfast discussion. Kwande is such a complex local government
with diverse political interest groups and individual political strengths and
capacities. All must be involved in this process for it to sail through.
We have elected leaders from PDP in
that area; Hon. Bem Tseen and Hon. Christopher Afaor. Then you go further to
political appointees at various levels of control where you have our current
Commissioner for information and Orientation, Hon. Justin Amase who is also a
huge mobilizer and not also leaving out the immediate past commissioner, Hon.
Simeon Kwaghbulah. You have the state secretary of PDP.Hon. Bem Dzoho and
Special Adviser to the governor on security, Col. Basil Kwembeh. Then on the
individual capacity, strength and command of the followership be it in or out
of government, you can go to Kwande and confirm, there is nothing that can
gather any momentum or be of any political substance without the blessing of
Chief Terlumun Akputu, Hon. Tersugh Yachiga and myself, Chief John Akperashi.
Wantaregh unongo used to be the father and grand commander but with his recent
stepping aside, we are calling the shots on all fronts.
So, the issue of the Zone ‘A’ senate
is, and shall never at any point be toyed with especially as it involves
Kwande. I want you to get this message clear as well as to whomsoever it may
Concern.
Question: Based on
this line-up, I think if you have to loan out the senate seat, definitely,
Suswam would have it automatically because most of you from all indications
shall be favourably disposed to him
Answer: How?
Why would my fans wonder more than myself over my predicament? I really don’t
have issues with the governor. He remains my leader and a dear friend. I’m
always at his service and also serving my party PDP dutifully. I lay my
complaints where I feel things ought to have been done differently. Whether or
not such are reconciled, I forge on. As you can see we are moving forward.
Question:
Ok. To be more blunt, you anchored the re-election of the governor and no doubt
dominated his campaign train. Many expected that you would be given a major appointment
considering your contributions. It never came. Recently, Boards were
constituted, the governor gave names and you were not among. How can you prove
that all is well?
Answer: well as I earlier said, I’m not complaining.
The governor is our leader. He knows all our capabilities and potentials having
related with us one on one and on personal levels. In my instance, I was never
the governor’s class-mate. I was never his school-mate either. I was neither
his childhood-friend nor soul-mate and so on as many are fond of saying. I knew
the governor during his days in the national assembly. I was then a core
political activist. One of the opposition leaders. I was in the APP and later
on the ANPP while he was in the PDP. As a critic, I was attracted to his person
as he was so much talked about especially in Abuja. I got closer to him and alas! I found
in him rare attributes of a young man of our generation strangely, even as we were
in different political parties, if you go through the articles I use to do
about him, projecting his leadership qualities and altruism, many got confused.
Many kept wondering why he was the only
person in PDP I had such level of soft spot for and could devout up to seven
pages of my magazine projecting his efforts at the National Assembly.
I remember how Dr. George Akume then
as governor would accuse Suswam and sought to find out the basis of tolerance
and intimacy between us since I never use to see anything good in Akume as a
governor.
Momentarily, it got beyond that and we
got closer. I have told you I don’t betray confidence. I was not in the same
party with Suswam during his days at the National Assembly yet, he enjoyed my
full support, friendship and confidence. Within this period, we have shared a
lot. He knows me quite well as it relates to talents, capacity and trust. So,
if to this day he has not fixed me in his government both at state or national,
then obviously, I may not have been suitable for any of the openings so far by
his own judgment. I’m also not unmindful of the fact that Suswam is a
thorough-bred student of power. You may not know. He has read so many books of
power. He also would have learnt so much from Machiavelli’s position on power
and leadership. He might be correct in his judgment too. The world over, people
of attributes like mine are hardly entrusted with leadership positions. They
are also never to be made too comfortable either.
We are few like that in Benue and I can count them. My dependable ally, Late
Basil Chianson would have felled into this category if he were alive. But we
have people like Prof. Mvendaga Jibo, Sen. Jack Tilley Gyado, Bem Ugoh, Mike
Gbe and again, Late daggris Moti if you knew him. Upright, steadfast, populist
and outspoken.
The balance is, one continues to serve and give
unquestionable loyalty. Eventually the time comes. So, I think it may not
necessary be that the governor has not deliberately appreciated my efforts and
service and also not mindful of protecting my interest. It might just be a
simple fact that what I would be more suitable for is yet to come. But I also
think that is a no issue because as you can see I’m moving on and along.
I may not be where many would imagine I should but I’m
equally no more where I used to be before the emergence of this administration
under Dr. Gabriel Suswam. So basically we thank God for our lives.
