By Oliver Omenka
I read a lengthy but baseless press release by one Andyson Iji Egbodo who claims to be the President of Igede Youth Council in which he leveled all manner of accusations on past and present leaders of Benue State, particularly former Governor of the State Samuel Ortom over the lingering crisis between the people of Bonta in Konshisha and Ukpute in Oju local government areas.
Egbodo heaped invectives on our Tiv brothers whom he accused of being killers, warriors of destruction and the aggressors who do not want peace on the border between Konshisha and Oju. Such an outing is capable of inflaming the already existing crisis which has heightened tensions and led to the loss of lives and property between Bonta and Ukpute communities.
Andyson Egbodo is a mercenary who earns a living through blackmail and mischief. I read in his press release where he was praising former governor Gabriel Suswam for doing well during his time as governor to maintain peace between Bonta and Ukpute. But this was the same Suswam that Egbodo insulted back in 2015 shortly after Suswam left office and he (Egbodo) was hoping for an appointment from Governor Ortom who just assumed office. His exact words against Suswam on social media that time were “Let us have relief from executive lies, deciets, arrogance, ila ohoho and wickedness of the highest order…”
Egbodo’s anger towards former Governor Ortom is rooted in the fact that he wanted a political appointment from the past governor but didn’t get it so he has since become an avid critic of Ortom and always finds ways to attack the former governor’s reputation even when a discussion does not involve him. At the moment, he is praising the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume because he is hoping that he may be recognized with an appointment.
As an indigene of Oju, I have followed the crisis between Bonta and Ukpute closely since 1997 and I can say without the fear equivocation that of all the governors of Benue State past and present, the person who addressed the crisis with a true sense of responsibility and sincerity was Governor Samuel Ortom. It was not Ortom’s fault that the violence resumed during his tenure but he acted swiftly and effectively to tackle the situation. Andyson Egbodo should note the following efforts made by Ortom to end the crisis between Bonta and Ukpute:
1. When hostilities resumed sometime in 2020, the Benue State government held a series of meetings with leaders from both communities. The Deputy Governor, Engineer Benson Abounu whom Governor Ortom appointed as the Chairman of the state Boundary Commission held meetings with stakeholders on July 1st and 15th, 2020. I was part of those meetings. Governor Ortom himself held expanded security meetings with stakeholders from both local governments with a view to reach an amicable settlement. Considerable progress was made and a final date fixed for all stakeholders to meet in the disputed areas on April 9th, 2021 to fully demarcate the boundary so that both communities could live in peace again. The boundary committee moved into the disputed area and carried out its assignment.
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2. Governor Ortom held two more security meetings in Makurdi with leaders from both communities suing for peace. I was also part of those meetings. This was followed by sensitisation and advocacy including a novelty football match, which took place on August 15th, 2020 to cement the peace.
3. As the crisis continued in 2021, Governor Ortom took further proactive steps one of which was the donation of more patrol vehicles and motorcycles to a joint security team for surveillance of the Konshisha/Oju boundary. Andyson Egbodo posted the donation of the patrol vehicles on his Facebook wall on September 28, 2021 (see attached screenshot).
4. The Governor also established a security post on the border between Bonta and Ukpute which was adequately funded by the Benue State Government for several months.
5. On August 5th, 2021 when troops, under the Command of a Captain, were seized at a checkpoint mounted by Bonta militia and taken into a forest where they were all brutally murdered thereby worsening the already fragile relationship between the Benue State Government and the federal government, Governor Ortom immediately summoned an expanded security council meeting after which he gave marching orders that all 12 weapons seized from the soldiers be returned and the leaders from Konshisha Local Government who were suspected to be complicit in the crises were immediately suspended by the Governor. Andyson Egbodo chose to ignore these facts in his characteristic mischief.
6. On September 20, 2021, Governor Ortom visited the crisis zone. He took along with him key stakeholders among who were the Deputy Governor, Engr Benson Abounu, Senators Gabriel Suswam and Abba Moro representing Benue North East and Benue South Senatorial Districts respectively. Hon Herman Hembe and Hon Samson Okwu representing Konshisha/Vandeikya and Oju/Obi in the House of Representatives respectively. The two members representing the two disputed areas in the Benue State House of Assembly were also present. Traditional rulers and many more were on hand on both sides.
Governor Ortom asked the two communities to sheath their swords. Peace returned to the area.
I advise Andyson Egbodo that as he is looking for a meal ticket, he should do so without dragging the name of the former Governor Samuel Ortom into his desperation. Secondly, he should study the history of the crisis between Bonta and Ukpute and stop misleading the public.
