Group Flays Ortom’s Victory at Appeal Court

A Non-Governmental Organization, New Benue Rebirth Initiative  has flayed the appeal court decision upholding the election of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State terming it "another manipulation of the judicial processes in the country where the highest bidder goes home with predetermined declarations that are not in tandem with the spirit of the law".

Dr. Samuel Ortom

Princess Augustina Onyilo, National Secretary of the group speaking to pressmen in reaction to the judgement that was read  by Honourable  Justice, Muhammadu Garuba on behalf of the five man panel, says the judiciary has once again failed to play its sacred role in a democracy,  as well thought out by the constitution to be man's saving grace in the face of irregularities, manipulation and wickedness.

"The negative consequences of this judgement today far outweigh our successes in the last 16 years, as a sovereign state and as a people and therefore the need to challenge the decision at the Supreme Court must be exhausted in order to put smiles on the faces of the common masses of Benue State who have had to endure the negative effect of a stolen mandate for too long a time."

" Nigerians and the rest of the world have seen and heard how our single constitution in the country could be interpreted in ways and manner that it suits the interest of very powerful persons in the society."

Speaking further, She said the gaps in the  judgement will be addressed at the Supreme Court and therefore called on the People's Democratic Party candidate, Prince Tarhemen Tarzor to without any hesitation approach the Supreme Court to claim the popular mandate that was given to him by the people of Benue State.

" We stand bold in the face of this conspiracy to call on Prince Tarhemen Tarzor to as a matter of patriotism proceed to the apex court in the land to make sure that the people's mandate which was snatched from him is restored back to the people,  the judgement according to her will not stand the acid test of Justice under our law and this move will surely deepen the strength of our laws above the dictates of godfathers," she added.
Meanwhile she has called on the people of Benue State  to remain law abiding citizens and positive that the Supreme Court will address the injustice, She queried that democracy can not exist without the rule of law and a strong judiciary that is devoid of external influences and temptations. 

Mr. Tahav Agerzua should keep quiet if he lacks what to say

By Awunah Pius Terwase,
The pointless commentaries and eye-servicing statements always making by Mr. Tahav Agerzua in defence of Governor Samuel Ortom are becoming unbecoming and the time to call him to order is now. Tahav Agerzua is a Special Advisor to governor Ortom, on Media and Information Communication Technology (ICT). Looking at his position, he is to advice the governor on media and ICT issues and not to be attacking the concerned citizens of the state and other people for advising governor Ortom through their constructive criticisms.

I took my time to read with keen interest an article written by Mr. Emmanuel Bello, former Information Commissioner in Taraba State and published in Sun Newspaper, about what transpired before the materialization of Samuel Ortom as the APC’s candidate in the past governorship election in the state. Therefore, I must acknowledge that what Mr. Bello narrated in that article was the obvious truth. Without Bello even telling anybody through his analysis but we all know that somebody (Senator Akume), who claimed to be the most powerful Political Gladiator in the state so far, did everything illegally possible to secure APC’s Governorship Ticket for the present Governor, Ortom.

However, despite giving a preferential treatment to Ortom, Benue people were truly tired about the tyrannical system of leadership exhibited by Mr. Gabriel Suswam, now the former governor of the state. Bringing the so called Tarzoo by Suswam to contest for governorship in the state, it was like imposing the young Tarzoo on the people due to the fact that the person who brought him was seemed to be untrustworthy felon who needed somebody like him to cover his fraudulent activities after leaving the office, and the best person for that covering job was him that Suswam brought and presented before the Benue People.

The issue to be noted here is that the so called Tahav Agerzua confidently denied this fact and as usual, attacked the writer, Mr Bello vehemently through his rejoinder.

I am not writing in defence of Mr. Bello but rather to lament on the needless attacks of Tahav Agerzua against anyone who criticize governor Ortom. Mr. Tahav Agerzua has benefited from almost every administration that came on board, right from 1999 to date. Any governor that is on board carries Agerzua along but I am yet to see the contribution of Tahav Agerzua towards the development of the state. I wonder why Mr. Agerzua cannot remain in one party. He is always jumping from one party to the other in order to remain in position of authority. Tahav Agerzua was the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Akume, now a serving senator. The same Tahav Agerzua worked as the Director, Media and Publicity to Gabriel Suswam’s Governorship Campaign Organization from June, 2006 to February, 2007 and he was compensated with an appointment. Notwithstanding, see Tahav Agerzua here again, serving as the Special Advisor to Governor Ortom on Media and ICT. Jumping from one party to the other and contributing nothing to the development of the state.

Our Benue leaders and beyond are always after their gains and not after the wellbeing of the poor masses and Mr. Tahav Agerzua is not an exception. One may wonder why I know so much about Agerzua and why I may commenting on his activities with a devoted interest. The truth is that I am tired of those people who claimed to be saints but more dangerous than those known to be dangerous. These saint people were in government and still in government but they are not doing any better from others. They keep blaming and accusing others of being corrupt as if they are good and better than those being accused. Can Tahav Agerzua swear that he has never embezzled or taken what belonged to the Benue people and enriched him-self? Senator Akume who ruled Benue State for good eight years, can he swear that he has never taken what belonged to the Benue People and enriched himself?  Can Senator Barnabas Gemade, who was the Deputy General Manager of Benue Cement and now senator, representing Benue North East, vow that he has never enriched himself with Benue money? Can the former Senate President, who is still a senator, Dr. David Mark, pledge that he has never in his life enriched himself with Benue money and beyond? Is there any former and current political office holder in Benue State and Nigeria at large that is not guilty of corruption? Remember, corruption is the wrong doing of the people, most especially those in the position of authority due to the fact that their own kind of corruption is rotten.

Conclusively, none of our leader that is a saint, both the former and the present ones, therefore, they should stop blaming, condemning and accusing others of being responsible to the problems we are facing now because they are all responsible. This is the time to work collectively beyond party, religion and tribally for the better development of our states and country. Mr. Tahav Agerzua should Change.

Awunah Pius Terwase,
A graduate of Mass Communication From,
Kaduna Polytechnic.
Wrote From Mpape,
Abuja.
08179289948
piusawunah@ymail.com