By Joseph Asawa
A federal law-maker representing the people of Sankera, at the National Assembly, Barrister Emmanuel Memga Udende, last Sunday (28th Feb. 2016) at Jootar, had a broken back-born as his lost over 600 political loyalists he had raised over the years to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The group popularly known in the area as ‘Udende Loyalists’ led by one time Chairman of Ukum local government council, Hon. Akumaveiyol Tor Musa told the crowd at the event that though the decision to dump Chief Udende and his party is a painful one but they have decided to do so to avoid the impending political calamity that await Sankera people in the near future (2019).
The former ‘Udende Loyalists’ have been a long standing spring-board through which Barr. Emmanuel Udende has been using to break political records over the years.
The group described the ruling party as an “Association of Past Criminals” (APC) that rules with high level of impunity without regards to the welfare of the people.
According to Akumaveiyol Tor Musa, “by the time we collectively assessed APC as a party, we look at its message, its programmes and policies as well as the calibre of people involved, and we discovered that oh! We are heading to doom. We decided to look back, re-assessed the PDP of yesterday and today, and we saw the PDP as virgin party hence the need to return, especially now that the traitors and the gluttons have all left. …with all the regrets, we are back to help strengthen the party now that the evil ones are no more…”
Another speaker from the ‘Udende Loyalists’, Hon. Akula Orngu, explained that they had earlier held a thanksgiving mass to seek God’s forgiveness for misleading Ukum people into political suicide under their former Boss, Barr. Udende who deceived them in the name of being ‘Ortom’s close friend’ saying they have now re-united with Dr. Gabriel Suswam to salvage the lost glory in the land.
Immediate past governor of Benue State, Dr. Gabriel Suswam delivered a touching speech at the occasion stating that he and other members of the PDP across the nation have learnt good lessons that are helping in repositioning the party.
Dr. Suswam expresses surprise that the same group of ‘Udende Loyalists’ who pressured him to prevail on others not to contest with their boss have now abandoned him and his new party (APC) and advise the returnees to go into the hinterlands and propagate the reformation message of the PDP for a better result.
Dr. Suswam regretted that the people of Sankera are daily losing key positions in government without compensation saying, the harsh lessons learnt under the present regime is enough for the people to willingly organized themselves and re-strategize towards continuing with the development that was coming up in Sankera before the present calamity.
The former ‘Udende Loyalists’ used the occasion to celebrate immediate past governor of Benue State, Rt. Hon. Dr. Gabriel Suswam in a grand-style featuring drama and special songs to herald his leadership.
The Ukum local government PDP Chairman, formally received the returning members (Udende Loyalists) and handed over to the Benue State House of Assembly member, Rt. Hon. Paul Biam who was assisted by Chief David Sev-av and presented them to the Benue state PDP leader, Dr. Gabriel Suswam who, in turn, presented them to the gathering.