Post-Election Situation in Benue State-An Open Letter to President Goodluck Jonathan

Dear Mr. President: We, members of Benue Watch; a group of concerned Benue citizens from within and outside Nigeria, have keenly followed political activities in our home state for long, and particularly intensified our watchdog role since Gabriel Torwua Suswam, the incumbent governor, was returned for a second term following the April 26th election.

As stakeholders in the Nigerian democratic process and, as peace-loving citizens of Benue State, we feel duty bound to draw your attention to the post-election situation in Benue that is gradually evolving into a disturbing pattern that should also concern you, Sir. However, before we delve into the gory details of our subject, we wish to seize this opportunity to congratulate you on your election as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We want to assure you of our solidarity in so far as you remain on the side of the Nigerian people as you promised in your inaugural speech.

Mr. President Sir, please note that ours is not intended to be any form of personal attack on any individual or party, rather, it is a proactive, or even a desperate move to save our gullible Benue citizens from the consequences that the subject we discuss below has began to unleash on them. We do this purely as concerned citizens who may have a better chance to reach you compared to the generality of the Benue masses whose feelings we are echoing. Sir, we specifically want to direct your attention to the following;

Since his return for a second term albeit questionably, Gov. Gabriel Suswam has embarked on a pattern of governance that seeks to victimize, deprive, harass, and even brutalize members of opposition parties and their sympathizers. More unfortunate even, is the fact that, not only does Suswam’s new government deprive opposition individuals, but it also holds entire local governments where Suswam openly lost the April 26th election to ransom.  In Benue today, it is widely known that Suswam directs his acts of vengeance not just against opposition members but also his party members who are seen to have failed to deliver the votes in their wards and local governments.

Mr. President, we have documented evidences of the following: (1) selective payment of salaries in some Benue local governments on the basis of party loyalty; (2) civil servants who have been forced to resign prematurely, or transferred unfairly, or even demoted on the account of party loyalty; (3) second class chiefs who have been queried and or denied salaries on the same grounds of questionable loyalty; (4) individuals who have been harassed and or brutalized because they identify with an opposition party; (5) detention of student leaders in the state for siding with opposition; (6) the now infamous arrest and detention in Abuja of a minor (14 year old); (7) Assassinations and attempted assassinations of opponents.  Sir, the listed cases are not isolated but systematic from local government to local government, and should not be allowed to continue. Beyond these current incidents, Gov. Suswam has also been consistently linked to the death of anyone who criticized him including the manhandling of journalists. There are also documented incidents of his regime harassing newspaper vendors, buying up and destroying newspapers that wrote less than flattering articles about him.

Mr. President, as observers and stakeholders, we are not afraid to call Suswam out on these infamous activities that rather have greater potential to destabilize our state than build it. His intolerance of opposition also actively undermines our democratic endeavour because there can be no true democracy without formidable opposition. Mr. President, not only does Suswam’s recent activities in Benue contrast sharply with the tenets of democracy as known internationally and as is construed in our constitution, but they also directly threaten to embarrass your regime in the light of the promise you made to Nigerians on the day of your inauguration:

  “This is a new dawn for Africa. We fought for decolonization. We will now fight for democratization. Nigeria, in partnership with the African Union, will lead the process for democracy and development in Africa. In particular, we will support the consolidation of democracy, good governance, and human rights in the continent. Africa must develop its vast resources to tackle poverty and underdevelopment.” President Goodluck Jonathan, May 29, 2011.

Sir, you made this pronouncement to Nigerians and friends of Nigeria alike and, to most of us Nigerians, it captures the essence of your current regime and brings hope to us. It is our yearning that you do not allow any individual Nigerian, or group, be they in any position, to undermine your pledge for democracy consolidation and good governance for Nigerians.

Mr. President, as concerned citizens of Benue State, we are worried that if not checked, the current situation in Benue State could potentially spill out of control and elicit anarchy in the state. We therefore call on you to intervene quickly by calling for a thorough investigation of alleged human rights abuses in Benue State. Lastly, we call on you to ensure that the judiciary is free from any form of intimidation or interference as they adjudicate electoral complaints in our dear State of Benue.

Thank you.

Benue Watch.