By Rexino Ejembi
Most of the exotic promises of a quick and comprehensive change in the polity made during the electioneering campaigns are yet to be fulfilled by the new inheritors in the state .Rather ,many months after inauguration ,the old system of business as usual that ousted the PDP ,state old business networks of cronyism and cabalism are reasserting themselves under new guises.
Ironically, this is happening despite the Devine doctrinal proclivity of the change apostles and the stated reformist agenda of the new clan. Despite their efforts at attempting a solution to the problems of the state and a well oiled propaganda apparatus , they seem to have irredeemably failed to thwart the resistance and distaste of the people for the administration.The standard explanation for the seeming stagnation in the performance of the administration, which borders on the callous attitude of the past administration even though contains a degree of truth, has become a monotony. The recent publication by an online media ,Zebra Reporters which gave a graphic details of the elaborate structure of corruption in the present dispensation was horrifying .But supporters of government in their response said the past corruption networks are fighting back and that the past habits and structures of corruption in the state are still alive and strong.Nothwithstanding, the emerging consensus in informed circle is that the new leadership in the state is not as transformational as the people had envisaged.But apologists of government believes the past carnage in the state and the enduring economic turmoil in the country is responsible for the perceived ineptitude of the administration.Whether the government has the capacity to surmount this problems will be tested in days to come as payment of salaries to civil servants in the state is proving difficult.
Another Achilles heels of this regime is the recent brutal invasion of parts of the state by very deadly Fulani herdsmen.So many lives and properties have been lost in this renewed killings by this Fulani bandits.The worst hit is Agatu area of the state where scores of people have been massacred and thousands have been displaced.The authorities seems helpless in the face of this genocidal program and no form of articulated response or relief materials have been supplied to the affected areas.The opposition in the state have effectively made a mince meat of the government over this terrorist attacks.They alleged government’s indifference to the deteriorating plight of the Agatu victims may not be unconnected with the defeat of the ruling party in the area during the just concluded senatorial rerun election in Benue south.Worryingly,the attacks are taking place barely few weeks after a peace meeting between the governor and his Nasarawa state counterpart,Almakura a known sympathizer of the invaders.
The Agatu crisis and other related challenges like non payment of salaries and allowances to public office holders have put the Ortom regime in a trilema.But there can be away out of this situation if the man of God can embrace a genuine reconciliation of the people of the state.No government can thrive in an atmosphere of mutual suspicion and antagonism.Those that don’t wish Ortom well will always term all views about his administration as antagonistic of his administration ,no ,many wish him well by their constructive criticisms of his policies.He can use back channels to dialogue with opposition figures,that is politics and he is a politician..
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