The Suswam Boys. By Iorliam'Amo Shija

Most , he was their teacher between 1970 and 1972 at Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA. When then as Major,  Ibrahim Badamosi  Babangida, IBB, having recovered from war injuries suffered at Uzuakoli as CO of the 44th battalion in the 1st division under Colonel Shuwa was made an Instructor and Company Commander in the Short Service Wing (pairing up with his coursemate and rival, Major MJ Vatsa of the Regular wing).


Over the years, aided by the convenience of his permanent military posting to the Federal capital interrupted only by foreign courses from late 1973 until 1985, Babangida developed intricate connections with civilian contacts in business, the media, civil service, academia and religious circles. He even devoted his thesis at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in 1979 to the question of civil-military relations.

He also skillfully manipulated the military sub-culture of “welfare”, through personal generosity and expressions of interest in the personal lives and problems of junior officers, endearing himself to many.

Above is believed by most analysts, to be the secret of IBB; what made him took over power from Mohammadu Buhari, effortlessly in 1985, survived most coup d'etat against him, ruled Nigeria for many years and still have a say in the democratic arrangement from1999.

Having identified junior officers - their strengths, dreams  and some times their  weaknesses, IBB constituted them  into what was known as IBB Boys. He used his influence and position to empower and strategically position them as such that, they could be useful to him or do whatever he wanted.

In 1999, Gabriel Torwua Suwam also entered our political scene. He was elected Federal House of Reps member for KatsinaAla-Ukum-Logo Federal Constituency. He had two terms, from 1999 to 2007. In 2007, he contested and won election as the governor of Benue state. He had two terms as governor from 2007 to 2015. This period of about 16 years, who were The Suswam Boys that he strategically located , endeared to himself and have sent forth for greatness, like IBB? How many of these Suswam Boys are still in  government?

Suswam have always had boys around him when in power and even now ; these were pulled from School mates, colleagues , childhood friends, relatives and the likes made  from places he had gone to school and worked like Zaki Biam, Adikpo, Makurdi, Lagos , Abuja and so.

Yes, through their association with him, some made money, some travelled the world, some built houses, some bought cars and married wives. Their social patterns were changed, but on a whole , who  amongst these Suswam boys were positioned to succeed him or help him become constantly relevant in the polity?

Suswam has always come across as an ambitious politician, and give it to him, amongst Benue state politicians alive, David Mark and of course Suswam , could be said  to have been the only two   who have ever come close to become president of Nigeria  since 1999. To achieve this, Mark needed Goodluck to win again in 2015 and Suswam too had to have won his senatorial election.

Through hindsight, one could say Suswam was either unfair to his boys, or lacked the foresight to use them, or both. In 2011, had Suswam wanted to go to the senate in 2015, he would have positioned his loyalist as a senator who would hand over to him; against all odds, that would have been his best bet. Also, if he had wanted to hand over to a successor in the MINDA axis, he would have prepared at least someone before hand from the zone. It was quite unfortunate that Suswam left power with most of his boys.

Today, Bob Tyough, Victor Hemba, Simon  Kwaghbula , Terkaa Mamwoo, Solomon Wombo, Samuel Obey, John Tondu , Mathias Ibyuan , Terfa Akem, Inyom Gideon, Chris Dura,  and a lot of the Suswam boys , some who have aspired for elective positions are also out of power with him. Regrettably, some of his boys have jumped camp and are sincerely working against him.

This has brought out the tactlessness of our politics, simply because, sooner are our people elected in positions of authorities, than they assume the exaggerated persona attributed to them. This robs them of the ingenuity to build their structures along loyal friends, strategically positioning them, where they shall be relevant to them . Although, he has not yet perfected it, but  George Akume is the only Benue person who has used this tactic  strategically. He does not compromise on this.

He left power in 1993, yet one of his boys , David Mark is still on the edge, holding brief, General Gusau, Tunde Ogbeha, Sambo Dasuki and a couple of other IBB boys have been recurrent decimal in the polity. This has constantly given IBB a sure footing in the country. As Suswam struggles with options as to what to do next , this will be one of his limitations. There might be some of the boys that would have  readily helped him, but they no longer have any capacity.

Suswam made a lot of boys initially, but he either destroyed some along the line , or  tactlessly left out of power with too many of them . As an ambitious politician, this was an oversight and it  would  confront him now and in the near future.

By Iorliam'Amo Shija