THE aspiration of Honourable Sam Ode, former Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, to be the next governor of Benue State, received a huge boost with explicit endorsements from two core groups from Jemgbagh zone of Tivland; the Jemgbagh APC Stakeholders and Jemgbagh Elders Forum.
The endorsements came as Ode took his consultation, familiarisation and consensus-seeking tour to Jemgbagh zone to shore up his aspiration to be governor of Benue State come 2023.
Hon. Ode, a leading governorship aspirant in the state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Friday, June 18, 2021, met separately with Jemgbagh Elders Forum at Yandev, and Jemgbagh APC stakeholders in Gboko, the headquarters of Tiv nation, where he formally informed the elders and party stakeholders in the zone of his intention to contest for the 2023 governorship of Benue State.
A day earlier, Thursday, June 17, 2021, Ode paid a similar visit on Sankera zone where he gave assurances that if elected governor of the State, he would bring lasting solution to the lingering conflict and violent crisis that had over time overwhelmed Sankera area.
Endorsement by APC stakeholders
While speaking at the Jemgbagh APC Stakeholders engagement with Sam Ode in Gboko, three elders; Dennis Goloza, Bende Iyolna and Yin Asongo, each representing Gboko, Buruku and Tarka local government areas, respectively, concurred that they have given their blessing to Hon. Ode.
They asserted that apart from being their son, Ode will also serve as a unifying factor in the 2023 governorship contest since, according to them; he is firmly rooted by ancestral ties to all the three senatorial districts of Benue State.
In his endorsement of Ode, Elder Goloza unequivocally stated that though “other governorship aspirants can come to Jemgbagh for consultations, but we have already taken our stand to support and work for Sam Ode and there is no going back.”
Following Elder Golozo’s comment, Hon. Ode was formally presented to Jemgbagh by the people of Mbakor (from Tarka local government area), in a ceremony led by Orvesen Atsuku, former Council Chairman of Tarka, who is also the brother to Sam Ode’s grandmother, supported by two elders each from the three local government areas of Jemgbagh.
To put a seal of approval of the endorsement, the traditional washing of H on Ode’s feet was carried out amidst thunderous ovation.
While speaking at the interactive session with Jemgbagh APC stakeholders, Hon Ode said that his political foundation was laid by Jemgbagh through their illustrious son and leader of APC in Benue State, Senator George Akume. Ode said since then, Jemgbagh had been relentless on building on that foundation by supporting and facilitating political appointments for him over the years.
Hon. Ode further stated that when he was Special Adviser to former Governor Suswam (current Senator representing Benue North-East) and saddled with the responsibility of supervising all the 23 local government areas as well as traditional rulers in the State, he had “the privilege to tour the length and breadth of Benue State for more than five times.”
Ode said from this experience alone, he can confidently say that he clearly understands the socio-political terrain, configuration and complexion of Benue State.
Ode added that long before his foray into politics, he was conversant with the challenges faced by the people as he was born at NKST Christian Hospital, Mkar; received infant baptism at NKST Gboko Central and attended primary school in Gboko.
He further said he is one of them and that he had come to consult and solicit for their support and blessing for his aspiration to run for the governorship of the state in 2023. “Jemgbagh is always the deciding factor for gubernatorial elections in Benue State and for that reason more governorship aspirants will be coming to speak with you. Welcome all of them so that when I finally become the candidate, they will be more inclined to work with us. I do know that when that time comes, you cannot leave me to support another aspirant,” Ode concluded.
Endorsement by Jemgbagh Elders Forum
Hon. Ode got further endorsement when he met and interacted with Jemgbagh Elders Forum in Yandev.
The Jemgbagh Elders Forum, also known as 88 Wise Men, led by Elder Haa Orpin as President-General, in a symbolic sign of freely bestowing their blessings, laid hands on Hon. Sam Ode as their son, with a charge to “go forth, conquer and accomplish your aspiration to become the next governor of Benue State”.
Elder Orpin stated that Hon. Ode had come before them in all honesty and with every sense of humility as a son would to his father and elders; to seek for their blessings concerning his governorship aspiration, adding that Hon Ode “is not a new face both in politics and to Jemgbagh because he is our son.”
In their separate remarks, Elder Agema Tseke, the oldest man in Jemgbagh Elders Forum, Ahungwa Je, Elder Tse, Ahembe Ikyo and Akume Kwaghbo, Secretary to the Forum, all consolidated and sealed the blessing when, one after another, they endorsed the candidature of Hon Ode and said he was abundantly blessed since no son comes to the father for anything and goes back empty handed.
Earlier in his address to the Elders Forum, Hon. Ode said he had come before them not to market himself but to familiarise, and in line with tradition, formally inform the larger Jemgbagh family, having been bred and brought up in the area.
“I‘m a direct offspring of Jemgbagh! They gave birth to me, and all that I have accomplished in life so far are traceable to your blessings, Hon Ode said,” restating that he was in Jemgbagh to familiarise himself with his fathers and formally inform them that he is counting on their blessings as he contests for the position of the governor of Benue State in 2023.
Hon. Ode was accompanied on the visit by the Director-General of the Sam Ode Campaign Team, Hon. Manasseh Akperashi; Bishop Pinot Ogbaji, campaign directors, coordinators and supporters.
