Since 1999, there has never been a constituency, in Benue State or even Nigeria like the Kwande/Ushongo House of Reps Constituency. The significant problem here is that basically, nobody has gone there beyond one term !
In 1999-2003, it was Hon. Moses Akuha Tor Gbande; 2003 -2007, Hon Terfa Atii, 2007 -2011, Hon Chile Wanger Igbawua, 2011- 2015, Hon Benjamin Tyokumba Aboho , 2015-2019, Hon Benjamin Iorember Wayo, 2019 to 2023, Bob Aondona Tyough .
So what are the reasons for this? I have identified three reasons or even four. The first reason is that , the constituency has been obeying Ya na Angbain. Here, they mean , after Kwande it goes to Ushongo and vice versa. Although there have been little distortions about the rigid practice of this . After Gbande, in Kwande Local Government Area, he handed over to Atii in Ushongo .
Atii was the first person to make a strong case for re-election. But unfortunately, Ushongo got it, but it was not to Atii that the mandate was given to , but to Igbawua , a new member. Igbawua wanted another term and fought for it with all his strength, but he lost to Aboho. When it was time for Aboho to go again, he too suffered same fate, Wayo another new guy had it and after Wayo, Tyough .
The second reason has been performance indices arguments. There is nobody since 1999 that the people of the constituency have appreciated. They always castigate and bring to nothing every member’s efforts. They said that about Gbande, Atii, Igbawua, Aboho, Wayo and even Tyough. When in power, they say only negative things about you.
The third reason is the INJO or debt factors; what that means is that , since 1999, the tenures of Igbawua 2007-2011 was INJO that Kwande gave to Ushongo , the INJO was paid when Wayo 2015-2019 went for a second time from Kwande after Aboho, 2011-2015. The tenure of Tyough , 2019-2023 was in that regards, a normalization of the zoning arrangement and starting all over . Now, the understanding is that both Kwande and Ushongo are back on same plane and it is the turn of Ushongo local government to produce a member.
The fourth reason I have identified is campaign of falsehood and propaganda. The people of Kwande and Ushongo are very politically experienced in media propaganda and they use it heavily to change votes patterns – They used that against all the reps members. Although immediately after their tenures are over and after politics have settled down , then they begin to assess the efforts of their representatives sincerely. That’s why today, the people speak well of Atii, Igbawua and Aboho . They praise them and situate their achievements in their right perspectives.
As he approaches the PDP primaries, can Bob Aondona Tyough, the incubent.member break this jinx? Like it has been happening since 2019, all propaganda have been used against Tyough too ;his philanthropy has been scorned ; his Goodwill to well known Political associates have been deliberately hidden, his modest achievements as a first timer are denigrated. On a whole Tyough has done well, but the normal politics of the constituency is happening.
Bob Tyough is focused and in high spirits, he is not deterred and more so, he has had the experiences of Atii, Igbawua, Aboho and Wayo to learn from. So from every indication, since 1999, Tyough is best poised to break this jinx and take that constituency to the next level. As he is doing this, I stand with him.
Beyond all reasons , why won’t a Constituency like Kwande/Ushongo not want to have a ranking member at the house of reps for once ?
Iorliam SHIJA writes as Publisher of Kwande Source News .
