GOV. ORTOM: The Love From A People
The incident that played out yesterday in Benue state, involving the governor and some youths of the state, is something worth discussing on. It's indeed an issue of deep thought, considering chiefly the deep implication it holds.
Beyond the apparent disdain for the ruling party, the APC, which was shown by the youths, what transpired yesterday signified something deep, something surreal, that just needs to be dug further to appreciate. It is something that is fitting and worth further pondering upon.
"What even played out yesterday?" one may ask.
It is that the governor of Benue state, Sam Ortom, set to go for a scheduled meeting with the leadership of the APC in Abuja, was literarily waylaid by some acclaimed youth leaders and swiftly asked to dump the idea. Even against pleas of noncompromise and effective representation by the governor, the insistence was for the governor to stay the visit.
It should be noted that Mr Ortom had assured the APC hierarchy of a consideration for possible U-turn, which more probably would have seen the guvnor remaining in the fold.
But obviously overwhelmed, Ortom listened to the obstreperous call from the 'rampaging' youths, who had gathered at the government house, immediately rescinded his decision to journey for the conciliatory meeting and eventually abandoned the ruling party in an action seen by the APC as a "somewhat surprising" move.
The whole summit of the anecdote is that, in seemingly listening to the voice of his people, guvnor Ortom defected to the opposition People's Democratic Party.
This is indeed remarkable and worth the salt of this discussion.
Beyond the superficial implications of cross-carpeting involved in party politics. Beyond the disconcertion in the APC in having to loose a gargantuan element and the excitement of the opposition in winning over a great boost. Beyond the backlash and the thumbs up from varying sentiments. Yes, beyond all these rather mundane and insignificant considerations, let's look at what instead is the real issue.
The real deal is the sentiment expressed by both the youthful people of Benue and that of Ortom himself. It is the issue of trust, of mutual trust between the led and the leader.
Ortom, for the trying moments of his administration, has shown effective commitment and great spirit of leadership to the service of his people. Faced with marauding dangers of insecurity posed by the herders' recurrent invasion, he has shown his people that he's somebody to look up to, somebody to rely on.
The people, on the other hand, has seen him as one to hold onto, to trust. Indeed, for them, Ortom has been their governor, their spokesman and their ever reliable anchor. They held him high, following him and guarding his steps.
What played out yesterday was the culmination of the angst against the party at the centre, who they believe has failed them. The APC-led government has watched with folded arms as the citizens are visited with acerbic horrors and cruel death, doing nothing.
Buoyed by this feeling of abandonment and boiling anger, the people could have decided to throw out the bathwater with the baby; which of course would have been easier. But instead, they decided to dip their hands, pick up the baby and asked that the bathwater to be thrown. That herculean task of separation is one proceeding from a strong bond of love.
The message Ortom and his people have shown all, especially those entrusted with leadership is to be so connected to the masses, a connection that ordinarily breeds trust. It is for leadership to be so deeply sinking that the people, for love and in love, becomes the yardstick of leadership policies and decisions.
However in the faces of the hailings and the yelling, I wish to say a nice sailing, Ortom, in your new abode. And may your values and commitment to your people never change .
Beyond the apparent disdain for the ruling party, the APC, which was shown by the youths, what transpired yesterday signified something deep, something surreal, that just needs to be dug further to appreciate. It is something that is fitting and worth further pondering upon.
"What even played out yesterday?" one may ask.
It is that the governor of Benue state, Sam Ortom, set to go for a scheduled meeting with the leadership of the APC in Abuja, was literarily waylaid by some acclaimed youth leaders and swiftly asked to dump the idea. Even against pleas of noncompromise and effective representation by the governor, the insistence was for the governor to stay the visit.
It should be noted that Mr Ortom had assured the APC hierarchy of a consideration for possible U-turn, which more probably would have seen the guvnor remaining in the fold.
But obviously overwhelmed, Ortom listened to the obstreperous call from the 'rampaging' youths, who had gathered at the government house, immediately rescinded his decision to journey for the conciliatory meeting and eventually abandoned the ruling party in an action seen by the APC as a "somewhat surprising" move.
The whole summit of the anecdote is that, in seemingly listening to the voice of his people, guvnor Ortom defected to the opposition People's Democratic Party.
This is indeed remarkable and worth the salt of this discussion.
Beyond the superficial implications of cross-carpeting involved in party politics. Beyond the disconcertion in the APC in having to loose a gargantuan element and the excitement of the opposition in winning over a great boost. Beyond the backlash and the thumbs up from varying sentiments. Yes, beyond all these rather mundane and insignificant considerations, let's look at what instead is the real issue.
The real deal is the sentiment expressed by both the youthful people of Benue and that of Ortom himself. It is the issue of trust, of mutual trust between the led and the leader.
Ortom, for the trying moments of his administration, has shown effective commitment and great spirit of leadership to the service of his people. Faced with marauding dangers of insecurity posed by the herders' recurrent invasion, he has shown his people that he's somebody to look up to, somebody to rely on.
The people, on the other hand, has seen him as one to hold onto, to trust. Indeed, for them, Ortom has been their governor, their spokesman and their ever reliable anchor. They held him high, following him and guarding his steps.
What played out yesterday was the culmination of the angst against the party at the centre, who they believe has failed them. The APC-led government has watched with folded arms as the citizens are visited with acerbic horrors and cruel death, doing nothing.
Buoyed by this feeling of abandonment and boiling anger, the people could have decided to throw out the bathwater with the baby; which of course would have been easier. But instead, they decided to dip their hands, pick up the baby and asked that the bathwater to be thrown. That herculean task of separation is one proceeding from a strong bond of love.
The message Ortom and his people have shown all, especially those entrusted with leadership is to be so connected to the masses, a connection that ordinarily breeds trust. It is for leadership to be so deeply sinking that the people, for love and in love, becomes the yardstick of leadership policies and decisions.
However in the faces of the hailings and the yelling, I wish to say a nice sailing, Ortom, in your new abode. And may your values and commitment to your people never change .
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