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| Tswam |
Simon Imobo-Tswam, a journalist, pastor, media consultant and writer, spoke with CHIKA OTUCHIKERE on his latest book, ‘Benue: Another Hope Betrayed’, which public launch is slated for this month. According to him, in spite of the change mantra with which the All Progressives Congress, (APC) coasted home to victory in Benue State, the state is still far from change. The spokesman for a former governorship aspirant in the APC says the book will open can of worms in the nation’s food basket. Excerpts.
How are you combining writing with politics?
I believe I am still a journalist. I guess it is true that once a journalist, always a journalist. But I am not a politician, never has been, and I doubt if I ever will. My involvement in politics or with politicians has been at the technical level, and as a technical hand. I package the political campaigns, I manage the image of my principals, I write speeches, and handle the political communication using appropriately designed communication models, modules and mixes. And it ends at that. I do not get involved in the muck, the intrigues, conspiracies and what-have-you. So, sorry, but I’m not into politics – at least, not the way you mean it. And that is why I have been unable to blend with the godfathers and the godmothers and all those clay-feet gods holding Benue down.
Have you written books about politicians?
It’s a question of academic interest. In my case, being a professional journalist and a student of history, you can say there is always the journalistic interest and an eye on history. And if you read my latest book, you will agree that it is not just a professional journalistic effort, it is a chronicle of history. It is one book in which journalism meets history, and research hugs facts.
So what is this book all about?
The title is, BENUE: ANOTHER HOPE BETRAYED. It is a chronicle of the historical events that birthed the so-called CHANGE in Benue state, the mediocrity that is on parade in our dear Benue, reflecting so plaintively in executive helplessness, executive ineptitude as well as executive surrender in almost all areas of governance. From my research and observation, the only area where the APC government has not surrendered is in the area of executive plundering. What is happening in Benue state is a bazaar of corruption. And those in the corridors of power are doing it competitively, feverishly and religiously.
With all attention on PDP, it is surprising to hear that APC people are also into plundering. Any specifics?
At my level, it would be most irresponsible to be talking or saying things for the sake of talking. But first, let me tell you this. First, Corruption is not a PDP thing, and, for that matter, an APC thing – corruption is a political class thing. And this is why there is corruption all over the place – whether it is PDP or APC or APGA or Labour that is executive incumbency.
Second, when people change political parties, it does not change their politics or the motives that drive their politics. So, changing political platforms does not confer sainthood. And third, is the Ortom case, particularly. Is he really APC? Is he not PDP? So, if the newspapers are talking of corruption in PDP, they can situate him properly. Honestly, I do not think Benue is being adequately reported. Every national newspaper may need to change its correspondents in Benue state. It is either they are heavily compromised or fear is preventing them from reporting the needful. The tragedy of abdicated governance in Benue state is under-reported. There is so much that needs to be highlighted that is unreported.
Any specific areas you want to mention?
Yes, I was coming to that. There are specific areas. There are many. I have captured them in the book, but let me give the tantalizers. Gov. Ortom swept to power on the slogan of CHANGE, and that is where it has ended: at the level of slogans. There is no content in the CHANGE, it is an empty shell. And, correspondingly, there is no substance in governance. So, the Ortom government is essentially a government of slogans and hackneyed clichés: In God we trust, we will rule with the fear of God.
When Gov. George Akume took over as governor in 1999, it’s probable he renovated Government House, Makurdi. When Gov. Gabriel succeeded him in 2007, he too probably renovated Government House. When Ortom came into office in 2015, he too renovated Government House, Makurdi. Can you see any change in the pattern? So, where is the Change? None at all. But this was a new, state-of-the-art Governor’s Lodge that Suswam built and furnished! So, the Ortom government is a routing government, running things the traditional way.
Second, Gov. Ortom, who promised Change, is still running the financial show outside the provisions of the Public Procurement Act. So, where is the Change? From May 29, 2015 to this day, it is one excuse after another. It is either the Finance Commissioner is “planning to do a memo” to that effect or the SSG is “preparing” a memo to the EXCO. Contract awards are being awarded without due process, perks like cars or car loans are given to public officials, not under the Public Procurement Act, but with something elastic as the “fear of God.”
I can go on. Don’t want to go back to Akume’s first 100 days, but in Suswam’s first month in office, Makurdi, the state capital, received a tremendous face-lift; and within the year, he invited President Yar’adua to visit Benue so as to commission projects. Today, Gov. Ortom has done 16 months in office, but he has not commissioned a single project – not even a culvert! Always, his government is either “planning to,” ”set to” or arrangements are always “concluded” to do something.
Again, the major reason why the PDP lost election n Benue state was because Gov. Suswam was owing civil servants salaries for four months. But Suswam was in office for 96 months, and out of these 96, he only owed for the last four months. That was when the recession set in. Although he tried to explain it, Ortom, who knew better, joined the APC, his new party, to blackmail the PDP; saying there was enough money, that if elected, he would pay salaries by the 25th of every month! And people, wanting CHANGE, believed him. Immediately, he was sworn-in, the issue of salaries went into voicemail. Today, Gov. Ortom has done 16 months in office, and he is owing five/six months. So, where is the CHANGE?
But this is not all. Under Suswam, who did not rule with the fear of God, the monthly wage bill for state civil servants was N2.7 billion. In the very month Ortom took over, the wage bill jumped to N3.7 billion. And yet, there was no cabinet, and the boards were dissolved. And yet, there was no recruitment. Instead of the bill coming down, it jumped up, Today, the bill has jumped to N4.2 billion! This means every month, the state government creams off nearly N2 billion from the public coffers!
So, why have you written the book?
I feel disappointed. I feel that as a party, the APC has duped the Benue people; that we sold them a shadow in the stead of the real thing. You cannot run a government on slogans. Slogans will serve on the campaign trail, but they won’t deliver on campaign promises. We didn’t exert ourselves so that we will do only one-term in office. But the way Ortom is going, if APC retains Benue, it would not be via One-man, one-vote!
So, I have written my book to draw attention to our faulty leadership recruitment processes as well as the leadership pitfalls that accompany such faulty recruitment. The hope that is tomorrow, we will do better. And I am APC, so this is a Family Affair. If we don’t tell ourselves the truth now, we will pay the price tomorrow.
When is the book-launch holding and where? Whom are you expecting at the launch?
The D-Day is September 29, here in Abuja. And we are expecting all the movers and shakers in Nigeria, but especially every Benue person who loves Benue enough to worry about the present state of things, all the friends of Benue, and all my friends. Come, let us reason together for the sake of our commonwealth.
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