It is no longer news that the incumbent Governor of Benue State, Mr. Samuel Ortom, has lost his bid for a Senate seat in a stunning upset
to Hon. Titus Zam of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.

In another surprising turn of events, the former governor of Benue State and serving senator, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Suswam, has also lost his
bid to return to the senate to Hon. Emmanuel Udende of the APC.

The announcement of Udende and Zam's victories at the polls has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of the state, as Ortom and Suswam were widely considered by many as leading candidates in the senatorial race to represent the people of Zones A and B,
respectively.

However, Governor Ortom’s campaign was plagued by allegations of unprecedented corruption, unpaid pensions, poor performance in office, and a failure to adequately support teachers and civil servants. As a result, many voters in Benue State have chosen to look elsewhere for leadership, leading to Udende and Zam's surprising victories.

Many pensioners in Benue State have long complained of being owed months or even years of payments by the PDP-led government of Governor Samuel Ortom. Despite repeated promises from Ortom to address the issue, little progress has been made in resolving the mess. This has led to frustration and anger among retired workers, who have been forced to rely on friends and family for support.

In addition to the pension calamity, many teachers and civil servants in Benue State have also complained of being owed, underpaid, and not able to work properly. Some have even alleged that their salaries have been withheld for months and years at a time, leaving them struggling to make ends meet. This has also led to widespread discontent and calls for
change in the state government.

Many Benue voters have also expressed frustration with what they see as a lackluster performance by the PDP-led government of Samuel Ortom for close to 8 years in office. Despite promising to improve the state's workers' welfare, infrastructure, and economy, critics say that little or no progress has been made in these areas. Some have also accused Ortom of failing to adequately address the security challenges facing the state, including clashes between farmers and herders.

In the end, these factors all played a significant role in Governor Ortom's defeat and the poor performance of the PDP in the just concluded presidential and national assembly elections.

While Ortom may have been a popular candidate in the past, his failure to address the concerns of pensioners, teachers, students, civil servants, and the entire Benue people ultimately cost him and other PDP candidates the support of many voters in Benue State, including my humble self.

As the state prepares for a new era of leadership, many are hoping that the incoming government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, PhD, come May 29, 2023, will be better equipped to tackle these pressing issues
and improve the lives of all the good people of Benue State.

©Angula Bishop Reuben

Ortom wanted to 419 Benue citizens.