JOHN TONDO: THE REWARDS OF LOYALTY

when a wooden god oversteps its bounds it is told what tree it was carved from- African Proverb

John Tondo, Benue's commissioner for Lands and survey is obviously one of those round pegs in round holes. Yes JT (as he is fondly called by those enjoying his largess and magnanimity), is a trained Surveyor and thus no other ministry would have been more appropriate than the lands and survey ministry. Be that as it may, JT being a surveyor does not actually fit in the position.

That he is a round peg is indisputable; his placement in a round hole is also obvious but what is unsaid but known is that not all round pegs fit round holes, some holes are too big for baby pegs as in his case.

Hon. John Tondo Benue Commissioner For Lands and Survey

John Tondo was appointed commissioner for Lands after the controversial exit of his predecessor Hon. Sam Dura, who was booted out for criticising the government in which he served(remember the famous swine saga?), has been managing the lands sector of the state for nearly five years. His appointment was greeted by many with applause as he was seen to be the best professional replacement for Dura who had already put in place machinery for proper land administration, being a land surveyor.

The applauds also came as a result of Tondo's age, as he was seen to be one of the youngest to have ever held that position in the history of the state (being less than 40 years old). As a youth he was expected to perform higher than his contemporaries having age and developmental trends on his side.

It is rather unpalatable the performance of John in this ministry. A record which can best be described as abysmal and unrecommendable. Rather than carry on with the erstwhile reforms and advancements embarked upon by his predecessor, JT has instead busied himself with opening up new unrealisable layouts. With his ascent into office, the young man has opened nearly 5 new layouts, allocating plot to politicians cronies in his bid to remain politically relevant and scurry favour keeping chunks for himself.

The commissioner who has since worn the toga of a land grabber has however failed even in this seemingly simple task as even those he has "settled" with plots in his new layouts (even as most of these plots had earlier belonged to individuals), cannot lay possession of them as the original inhabitants of these lands have refused to bulge since they were not properly compensated for these grabbed lands.

It is ironic that Tondo who served some time at the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), should know the importance of a Geographic Information System considering the feats achieved via the use of the computerised system. Thus when he assumed office, it was expected that He will continue the actualisation of the Geographical Information System began by his predecessor, Alas! the digital age, commissioner, jettisoned the project and has left the ministry in the 19th century while the world advances to the digital age; perhaps this is meant to enhance his land grabbing attitude.

It also appalling that a young man of his age and exposure should remain ethno-feudal and allow it hamper his duties as commissioner. It is common knowledge that during his early days in office there was persistent clash between indigenes and settlers in the agbough area of Makurdi, the state capital. A situation alleged to have been roused by the land commissioner himself. This crisis which cost many lives and property influenced the summoning of the commissioner by the toothless State House of Assembly which however swept the issue under the carpet after "closed door" interrogations.

Is it not surprising that John Tondo who hails from a very deprived background has suddenly become a multi-millionaire? Where did he stumble at such wealth? John Tondo who has never been in any reasonable paid employment has all of a sudden risen to the class of millionaires in Benue state after his appointment as commissioner, owning edifices in Makurdi and Abuja; servicing his chain of girlfriends whom are bought cars and given plots of land as complimentary stuff for "services rendered"; he has even sponsored most members of his family abroad and has particularly transformed his younger brother, one Tersoo to his personal portfolio manager, laundering funds for JT.

Sometime last year there was a nationwide applause commending Gov. Gabriel Suswam for his decision to reshuffle his cabinet and inject productive hands. Unfortunately, this was just a gimmick and cushioning approach to the wide disapproval of his cabinet's under performance. John who was part of those consumed by the tsunami, returned more empowered and energised.

This is rather no longer a surprise for many of us that have watched this rewarding government in its way and manner of rewarding loyalty by appointments and contracts. It is our pleasure to applaud Suswam for keeping faith with his cronies by rewarding them thus. We have realised that JT is untouchab le because he happens to be Mathias Byuan's (remember the driver turned millionare?) representative in this government and thus cannot be shaken as he represents the "million dollar senator's" presence in this administration to which Byuan played a serious clandestine role in its advent.

How long will we remain silent and be sacrificed at the altar of mediocrity?