The political landscape in Benue State is being redefined by performance, not mere promises. It is evident that the overwhelming support for Governor Reverend Father Hyacinth Iormem Alia’s second term is not born of sentiment, but of strategic, enlightened self-interest anchored on three undeniable realities: Developmental Projects, Strategic Political Succession, and Empowering Appointments.
Gboko people in particular, and the Jemgbagh political bloc in general, are not a people who are naive or myopic; rather, the Gboko people are a highly enlightened people, both politically and otherwise. As such, we cannot be deceived. His Excellency Governor Alia has accomplished what no one else has ever done in Benue State in such a short period, and the Jemgbagh people are well aware of this fact.
They cannot be misled. Come the 2027 general elections, the Jemgbagh people will turn out in their usual large numbers and vote massively for Governor Alia so that he will continue the transformative work he has been doing ever since assuming office as the Executive Governor of Benue State.
One of the primary reasons why Gboko and the entire Jemgbagh area will throw their support behind Governor Alia is the tangible evidence of development in our homeland.
When the Governor commenced the construction of a flagship project like the underpass, he understood that Gboko is the focal town of the Tiv people, where the paramount leader, the Tor Tiv, resides. The Governor recognized that it was only right to honour this place held in high esteem by the rest of the Tiv nation; hence, the construction of the underpass in Gboko, which has been advancing alongside the one in Makurdi.
Aside from the underpass, the Governor has successfully replicated the success of the BIPC Bakery in Makurdi—a facility that has been a source of succour to the Benue populace, who now enjoy quality bread at an affordable price. The Governor chose Gboko again for the establishment of the BIPC Bakery in order to serve the people here. True to his word, the bakery has been built, commissioned in Gboko, and its products are now being enjoyed by the populace of this wonderful town.
Furthermore, the Governor has undertaken a massive construction drive of roads and streets in Gboko, a number of which have already been completed. For instance, the former Clinic Road, which used to be extremely dusty during the dry season and severely muddy during the rainy season, has been completely taken care of by the Governor.
The road has since been asphalted with a nylon tar and is now being enjoyed by the Gboko people. There is also another road in Adekaa, the Ikese Street, which has been tarred, and more recently, the Governor installed street lights on Ikese Street.
It is important to note that Gboko is the capital of the Jemgbagh people, which comprises the local government areas of Buruku and Tarka. Whatever development is executed in Gboko is always of great importance to the rest of the people in the three local governments. For example, both Buruku and Tarka currently rely on Gboko for essential banking services, and thus, whatever the Governor has done in Gboko is still to the immense benefit of the rest of the Jemgbagh people.
The history of Benue politics reveals that political cycles, though often chaotic, tend to follow a pattern of regional succession. Even when the former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, performed abysmally poor—to the extent that his administration owed substantial civil service salaries that Governor Alia now pays before the 25th of every month—the Benue people voted him back to complete his second tenure.
I recall vividly when Governor Ortom was campaigning for his second tenure and visited the Gboko Local Government Secretariat; the civil servants would not allow him to speak because of the huge salary arrears he owed. It was another prominent leader, Gabriel Suswam, who pleaded with the civil servants to forgive and vote for his second term so that the political rotation would be uniform. He argued that since others always complete their second tenures, Ortom should not be made an exception.
Judging from that precedent, the Jemgbagh people are keenly aware of the importance of the second-term convention. We are hopeful of producing the next Governor after Governor Alia’s second tenure, and we will not compromise our position to be next in line. Therefore, we will vote massively for the Governor in order to pave the way for a Governor of Jemgbagh extraction after his two terms are complete.
Another critically important factor that will guarantee the massive vote of the Jemgbagh people for the Governor’s second tenure is the fact that he has given substantial and visible appointments to our sons and daughters from the Jemgbagh extraction.
Governor Alia has ensured that Jemgbagh is recognized at the highest levels of his administration:
A very juicy appointment like the BIRS Chairman is currently being handled by a Jemgbagh son.
Governor Alia appointed a Jemgbagh son as the youngest Commissioner in the cabinet.
The Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Protocol is from Jemgbagh.
There is a serving Commissioner from Gboko Local Government (Yandev), a privilege that had never occurred before this administration.
The Executive Secretary of BIPC is also from Gboko Local Government, amongst so many other significant appointments.
Judging from the points above, one can clearly see that Gboko and Jemgbagh in general will not compromise their position on the second tenure of Governor Alia. They will vote him massively because of his transformative administration, the immediate benefits being enjoyed by the people, and, most importantly, because of his role in strategically making way for a Governor of Jemgbagh extraction after his second tenure in office.
The future of Jemgbagh is inextricably linked to the success of Governor Alia’s complete mandate. The choice is clear: Performance now, Succession later.
