By Emmanuel Eche-Ofun John
On 31st December 2022, when the campaign council met at Senator Abba Patrick Moro’s Otukpo residence, at his instance, to map out the modalities for the re-election campaign tour of the Senator, little did anybody know that what we all thought would be a very easy task was going to be an all-day, all-night tour that would take us to the entire 102 council wards that make up Benue South Senatorial District.
The campaign council had proposed two forms of tour and presented to the Senator; Ward-to-ward and in clusters. The Senator, unhesitatingly, said he would do ward-to-ward.
Friday, 13th January, 2023, was fixed for the kick-off of the tour. By 11th January, admirers, supporters and members of the campaign council had started trooping into Otukpo. Available hotel spaces in the neighborhood and the rooms in the Senator’s residence were taken up. Everybody wanted to be part of the tour.
13th came and it was a beautiful morning. The entire residence was soon filled with supporters and admirers who were all beautifully dressed in shirts nicely designed with the Senator’s pictures and party logo. The Chairman of the campaign council, Rt. Hon. Ezekiel Adaji, and the DG, Dr Elijah Adakole Friday Elijah, led the team of supporters.
Branded cars and buses soon arrived. People willingly offered their vehicles to be used for the campaign. A large crowd soon gathered. The appeal by the Senator that people should wait in their various wards to receive him fell on deaf ears. Nobody wanted to be left behind.
It was about 11am that the train finally set to move. Destination was Agatu. It was a long convoy, a very long convoy of assorted cars. As we departed the house and rode through the Otukpo township road, towards the Enugu roundabout, passers-by were captivated and amazed by the beautiful ‘parade’ as they hailed and danced to the music blasting from the public address system in the convoy.
Slowly and steadily, we rode out of Otukpo town and headed towards Adoka. We rode on, at controlled speed, and approached Agatu. Then we arrived our first port of call; Oshigbudu Council Ward. The waiting crowd was unexpected. From the road where a large group of young people who were waving PDP flags and displaying large banners of the Senator received him, to the venue, the crowd was uncontrollable.
Those of us who accompanied the Senator were soon displaced by the surging crowd as he was ‘snatched’ and thickly surrounded by the people. We had to struggle to get a space to even stand. The reception was very warm. Men, women, youths, even children all trooped out to catch a glimpse of their Senator.
In their separate remarks, speakers eulogized Senator Moro for his sterling performance on the floor of the Senate, especially his efforts in Agatu. The youths said the Senator didn’t have to come to the local government area to campaign, they said his works were huge enough to campaign for him.
From Oshigbudu to Ogbaulu, to Odugbeho, to Okokolo, to Egba, to Obagaji, to Enungba, to Usha, to Ogwule Kaduna and to Ogwule Ogbaulu, the experience was the same; massive turnouts and warm receptions.
The Senator, in his addresses, said he was in the various wards to solicit people’s support for his re-election.
His words: “I have never felt afraid going to a political battle with you behind me. I know we haven’t gotten to where we ought to be yet but I know we are not where we were yesterday.
“I stand here to let you know that I will stand in the gap for you in government to speak for you and get for you whatever that’s due to you.
“We are one party and one family, we must agree to work together. Work with me so that we can build the Zone C Community of our dream.
“I have gone and worked for you, I still want to work for you, which is why I’m here to talk with you.
“I left my home to come and seek your votes, you should know that I mean business. I will never fail you. Don’t be swayed by the promise of immediate benefits, support me and hold me responsible if I fail you.”
Senator Moro promised to build a bridge for them, complete the Odugbeho-Okokolo road and electrify some of their communities, a major challenge confronting the local government area.
The first day was tiring, as we didn’t arrive the 10th council ward until the early hours of the second day, but it was fun and quite exploring.
We returned to Otukpo and caught a nap for a few hours, after which we freshened up, had our breakfast, changed our cloths and set out for Apa.
If the receptions in Agatu were great, the ones in Apa were overwhelming. Apa people said Senator Moro gave them school buildings and electrified their communities, and won’t forget that in a hurry. They mobilized themselves and waited in their intimidating numbers to receive the Senator in their various wards. As late as 2am, the people were still dancing and celebrating, and waiting patiently for their Senator. We soldiered on. We rode through rural roads in the dead of the night and wouldn’t turn back until we were done with the local government area.
The Senator assured the people of his continued efforts in the local government area, to ease their pains and make lives more bearable for them.
From Apa to Oju, to Obi, to Otukpo, to Ohimini, to Ado, to Ogbadibo, to Okpokwu, the reception only got better. In Igede land, the crowds were so large that some of the team members had to remain in their vehicles, as they couldn’t push through to sit or even stand. The cameramen had to climb platforms in some places to snap pictures. Everybody wanted to touch or see the Senator. Massive and natural love everywhere! The announcement by the Senator that money had been appropriated for the rehabilitation of the Otukpo-Obi-Oju federal road in the supplementary budget threw the crowds into wild jubilation. When he further stated that the death-trap Odiapa bridge, in Obi, would be constructed in 2023, the crowds jumped in jubilation. He added that the proposed healthcare center in Oju would be completed and delivered on time, in addition to electrification of some communities in the land, such as Idelle community. The people’s joy knew no bounds. They screamed ABBA MORO the more.
In Otukpo/Ohimini, it was mammoth crowds everywhere. Jubilant crowds that genuinely came out to identify with the Senator. Large crowds that have no other person to vote except their Senator. They came with tubbers of yam, goats and even a cow (from Ohimini) to show appreciation to him for all that he does for the people. Here the Senator promised to build more school buildings for them, rehabilitate their roads and complete the healthcare centre he’s building there.
In Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu, the crowds became doubled and scary even as the Senator’s convoy also doubled up. In some places, I only stayed afar to listen to people’s speeches from the public address system as I couldn’t get closer because of the crowds. The Senator’s name was the only name on everybody’s lips.
In Ado, Senator Moro assured the people of his readiness to work with the relevant stakeholders to tackle the security challenge bedeviling the land. He said he would continue to provide the needed leadership and adequately represent the people in the Senate.
In Ogbadibo, Senator Moro said he would rehabilitate some roads, especially the Ukwo-Owukpa-Itabano road, which was poorly done. He said he would complete all the ongoing electrification projects in Otukpa and Orokam, tackle the erosion problem in Otukpa and drill two boreholes in Itabono, Owukpa.
In Okpokwu, the Senator assured Ichama people that he would complete the electrification project that he had began. He promised the people of more school buildings in their schools, completion of the Eke-Ugbokolo road, amongst other things.
By the time we finished with Okpokwu LGA, we had visited 100, out of the 102, council wards in Benue South, a feat that not many politicians have the capacity and capability to undertake. Abba Moro did it with ease. Yes, he did it, not because he’s threatened by anyone but to get a first-hand information on the needs of the various wards and have a heart-to-heart discussion with his people.
During the tour, the Senator told his people that before he leaves the (political) stage, he must ensure that each council ward in the Zone has a legacy project for which he will be remembered. He said he would continue to work for his people, promising to wake up everyday and thinking of how best to impact on their lives. He said he would never lead them astray, that they should continue to trust him.
The tour was quite educating. To me and many others, it afforded us the opportunity and privilege to visit all the council wards in Zone C. The tour also enabled me to know about some of the Senator’s projects which he executed without our knowledge. It was during the tour that I got to know that he drilled two boreholes in Allan Ward, in Otukpo LGA, something I never reported. The villagers confirmed it. It was also during the tour that I got to know about his effort on the Entekpa road, also in Otukpo. He promised to revisit the road again, to make it more motorable for the people.
During the tour, I saw Senator Moro dining and wining so freely with his people. He drank from the same cup and ate from the same plate with them. No matter the time we arrived a council ward, the Senator would step out of his car for a long walk with the people to the venue. He wouldn’t even let his security detail clear the way for him or guard him, as is common with most ‘big men’, he mingled with the people freely and worried about nothing. A true definition of a grassroots man you would say!
As we prepare to go to the polls on the 25th, I strongly believe that we have no alternative to Senator Abba Moro for now. He’s the man most suitable for the job. He knows the problems of Zone C and how best to tackle them. He’s our best foot and must be put forward, for our collective good.
The Ward-to-Ward Campaign Tour has been concluded, save for two council wards in Apa that we couldn’t visit because of insecurity challenge. If what I saw and heard is anything to go by, I can say that the election is as good as been won by the Senator. He’s well loved, cherished and appreciated. I’m convinced that the good people of Benue South Senatorial District truly know what is good for them. Abba Moro is who is good for them and they have chosen to stand with him.
The name echoes all over Benue South!
Emmanuel Eche-Ofun John is the Deputy Director, Publicity, Abba Moro Campaign Management Team.