PLAYGROUND SERIES: ADO, THE POLITICAL HIJACK - (OPINION POST)

Written by: Jacup Ochulayi

Again a major political and government activity gets an embarrassing disruption, the formal inauguration of Ado legislative council and election or selection of principal officers of the house, in other for them to commence work on the job they were elected to do, almost a month after the executive under the leadership of Hon Mrs Blessing Unogwu Agbo was sworn-In and has since hit the ground running. Undoubtedly, Ado local government stands at a very high and strategic pedestal in Benue South, and indeed on the entire Benue political landscape, the political culture of the people remains active and participant in classification, which has nearly made politics a career or source of livelihood for a lot of our people. But, "The true essence of politics would have been lost if it is not for the cause of advancing the development of generality of the people in the society " (self-quote).

The disruptive and inconclusiveness that trailed the APC Chairmanship zoning process in Ado local government prior to the council elections in May, before the intervention of the executive Governor of Benue State Samuel Ortom has replicated itself again, now making it a political trend or pattern of politicking or "getting what, when and how" and in this case, it is for the interest of a" microscopic few", like our friend Hon Patrick Obahiagbon once said. This is a clear attempt of political hijacking and cabalism that is brewing around Ado political development and needs to be watch.

This ugly trend, is  of great concern and a cause for worry on the part of political watchers, stakeholders, analysts and true lovers of Ado, and as such, the need to pen down this few words. Politics, especially at the grassroots should not get to a point of violent disruption of peaceful processes, and when a few are not able to get what they want, or perceive that the process may not favour their interest, then they quickly invite stand-by thugs to disrupt the process. If this emerging trend is not watched and squash immediately, it will eventually become the modus operandi of some political actors, and consequently, a destructive menace to the good image of the local government.

The executive Governor of Benue State has a daunting task of catering for the development needs of the entire people of Benue State, and cannot always be settling Ado's unresolved political dispute each time it arises. The executive Chairman Hon Blessing Unogwu Agbo is riding on a robust electoral mandate and she continues to enjoy the true support of the people, ordinarily, one will expect that she is given the needed support and leverage to excel in the task of governing Ado local government, for the general good of the people. All actors should, for the sake of democracy and progressiveness, shelve their sword and work towards uniting the party.

The idea behind PLAYGROUND SERIES is not to attack persons or group but rather, to make commentary on political events and development in Ado local government........ NEXT EPISODE COMING SOON.