Fabmimi News: Any Brewing Rivalry Between Gov Suswam & Chief Lawani Over 2015Elections? Solomon Ayado Of Leadership Examines This SituationCritically.Click For Details.

The clamour for who becomes the next governor and the search for the choice candidate that would succeed Governor Gabriel Suswam is seriously on in Benue state. Chief Steven Lawani, the present deputy governor has declared interest to run for the governorship race in 2015. SOLOMON AYADO writes that a raging rivalry is seemingly brewing between the governor and his deputy.click for more

Many critically-minded persons would find it difficult to believe that a raging disagreement may be ensuing between Governor Gabriel Suswam and his deputy, Chief Steven Lawani over political shenanigans.

It would appear unrealistic but the drums of war appear to be sounding very high especially now that the 2015 governorship election is drawing nearer.

It is factual that as the destination for the next political dispensation is counting down, many politicians, particularly the heavy weights would definitely be scrambling for relevance or displaying desperate quest for occupancy of juicy public offices.

Usually, political maneuverings and power play may have to take the center stage just as political big wigs would fight dirty based on their varied political aspirations.

It has almost become common for politicians in the country to employ every means that would see them to positions of authority. Some of them toe the forceful path while others, not many anyway, subscribe to peaceful methods with calculative and strategic planning.

In Benue state, the situation is obviously not different; hence political analysts have recently opined that both force and peace-tricking methods are eminently and strategically used by politicians to achieve their various political desires.

Evidently, the agrarian state is among the dicey states to watch and it is very obvious that the political outcome of Benue state in 2015 is very uncertain owing to the current wrangling such as the perceived battle between the existing political parties, struggle in wits by aspirants to win the party (ruling Peoples Democratic Party) ticket and succeed Governor Suswam.

Funny enough, more than 30 governorship aspirants upon several jokers have already indicated their keen interests to run for the race. Many are contesting with the candid intention to succeed Governor Suswam, to build on his already laid foundation of development while others are truly wishing to clinch the juicy seat to become lords over the poor masses.

Typically, Suswam would want a development- driven person and someone with vast political wisdom that would move the state to higher heights to succeed him.

But like a father, he has so many of his children who are all vying to inherit his legacies and cannot choose a particular child to bless because it would amount to bias.

Again, if not carefully handled, the handling of the Benue governorship issue would further plant an atrocious acrimony within the PDP family.

This is where the game seems tough for the governor and it is left to be seen how much and well the aspirants would make themselves salable to the electorates.

All the contestants, including serious and the unserious, have various past antecedents that would be properly adjudged and it is upon this scenario that the right choice may eventually emerge.

Already, the masses have to some extent lost confidence in the general electoral conduct and the perceived selection called election in political parties.

But it is believed that the state would at the end surely arrive at a candidate, whether imposed or the people’s choice to clinch the governorship seat in 2015.

Among the many aspirants running for the race, Suswam’s deputy, Chief Steven Lawani is not joking over his firm decision to succeed his boss. More ever, the old-timer politician is from the Idoma enclave of the state who have unceasingly alleged marginalization by the dominant Tiv tribe.

In the Idoma side which is the zone C senatorial district comprising two major tribes, the minority Igede nation has always cried foul but the Idomas appeared not bordered with it.

It is against this backdrop that the deputy governor, Chief Lawani is desperately out to become the next governor. Te argument of his people argument is that the Idoma people have not enjoyed the seat since the creation of the agrarian state.

The deputy governor is said to have informed the state working committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) his decision to vie for governorship and has also been holding series of consultations with party elders and supporters across the local government areas.

It is gathered that the audacity with which Lawani has approach his political intention has compelled Idoma elders who during a particular meeting in Otukpo, the headquarters of the Idoma nation reportedly warned that no other Idoma son should run the race against Lawani.

Expectedly, the force with which Lawani is driving round his campaign is typical of sending bad signals to his boss, Suswam who ordinarily may feel uncomfortable.

It is fondly strange for any governor to take kindly any displayed political intention of his deputy with strong intent to succeed him. There are political enemies everywhere and political jobbers thrive better where there is crisis and may wish to fuel Lawani against Suswam.

It most likely that the mischief makers have almost succeeded in their evil bid to jam the political bulldogs against each other with target to derive maximum benefits.

This is where the clear rivalry between Suswam and his deputy is perceived. It was gathered that Lawani has accused his boss of smart-playing him in the scheme of affairs of the state and that the situation has already caused irresolvable ripples among PDP giants.

More so that Suswam is caught up with his conceived intention to run for the Benue North East senatorial seat in a keen contest with the incumbent Senator Barnabas Gemade, the stance of Lawani is suspicious because it would be seen that he may later finally settle his sympathy and political support for Gemade who is almost his contemporary in the political elders circle.

Speaking on the matter, the chief press secretary to the deputy governor, Mr. Ejembi Ogwuche said there is no existing acrimony and rivalry between the deputy governor and his boss, describing the allegations as highly mischievous and barbaric.

“The allegation that there is problem between Chief Lawani and his boss is untrue. There is no acrimony and any animosity between them, the whole issue is a clear falsehood and cheap rumours peddled by some disgruntled elements that are envious of the towering political image of Chief Lawani.

“His excellent relationship with the governor has been cordial since they came into power; they are working peacefully for the development of the state.” Ogwuche stated.

The CPS further noted that the deputy governor is a choice candidate for governorship seat;

“Lawani is among the most credible candidates running for the governorship and some mischief makers are already feeling threatened and are all out to denigrate his image.”

Political watchers are of the view that one among the major issues that is already a canker worm between the once peaceful relationship between Governor Suswam and his deputy, Lawani, is the inability of the governor to render government support to the candidature of his deputy.

Suswam has always, at various political meetings insisted that he will not sponsor or throw government support to any aspirant running for election. He stated that the contestants must base their campaign on their strength and past records of achievements which their chances of winning, only the electorates can decide.

However, reacting to the allegations of the existing fraud between the governor and his deputy, the commissioner of information, Mr. Justin Amase said; “with my closeness to the governor and his deputy, I can tell you that there is no feud between the two.

“There is a complete communication between the governor and his deputy and they are working together all the time but those speculating rumors that they are ripples, are only trying to cause mischief in order to gain primordial benefits.”

At the moment, whether there is an existing fracas between the governor and his deputy for whatsoever reason or not, the state is faced with serious developmental issues and security challenges that require attention rather than political intrigues. No doubt, Suswam and Lawani are two friendly leaders; their alleged suspicion of one another can only affect the fortunes of the PDP in the state.

Lawani is an elder-statesman and has worked both in public and private sectors virtually in every nook and cranny of the country. He is well known across the length and breadth of the nation and has been in politics for quite an age. He became the right choice for the Idoma people to be unanimously tipped as deputy governor and has deputized Governor Gabriel Suswam since they came into office in 2007 till date.

What may have provoked Lawani to nurse the ambition for governor and openly declare his intention to run still remains an issue to ponder about. It is usual of every politician to occupy a particular political position and after serving creditably or unreasonably jump to the next higher level. The case with Lawani in this regard may not be far from it.

Prompted by the long-standing clamour of the Idoma people to at least taste the juicy seat of governor, coupled with his personal desire to impact rapid development to the state, Lawani who is the chairman of Lobi Stars football club and also holder of the highest traditional title of the ‘Ochagwu K’Idoma’ is not joking about the matter.

His seriousness for the project is evident that he had recently converted his major private residence in the highbrow area of Makurdi into a campaign office. His campaign stickers are seen on every moving vehicle around the town, just as bill boards with official picture are mounted in strategic positions