At the moment in Benue, the talks among the people are about the 2023 gubernatorial elections. Permutations and analysis are being made about who could be the next governor of the Food Basket of the Nation.
But before the general elections, there are small battles for the choice of candidates for the major parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Being the top job, the gubernatorial contest has attracted no less the scrambling and controversy it deserves. This is because whoever gets the ticket in any of the two parties could become the next governor.
In about two weeks, stakeholders and the leadership of the Benue APC would be selecting and announcing its flag bearer. Over the course of the week in Makurdi and Abuja, a series of high-level meetings geared toward consensus and, or, free and fair primaries were taking place.
Findings revealed that over 30 people are bidding for the APC ticket. However, it was gathered that whoever is chosen out of the 10 aspirants from Vandeikya local government, which currently has the highest contenders and the most favoured by zoning, may win it.
The aspirants include Engr. Terhemen Tilley-Gyado; Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia; Prof Terhemba Shija; Ter Ikya and Jeffery Kuraun.
Others are Hon. John Tsuwa; Mr ESV Tyochimin; Prof Ben Yisa; Paul Uye; and Joe Waya.
Each of the candidates are great men in their own right, with the capacity to lead the state. However, if Benue’s zoning and socio-political arrangements are to be gone by, some ranks are more favoured. The news out there, according to findings, says Engr. Terhemen Tilley-Gwado is one of the aspirants being strongly considered. Given his rich ancestral family ties in Vandeikya LGA, Mba Dede Ward, rich profile, exposure, dazzling appeal as a relatively young man, and deep financial war chest, this is not surprising.
In 2019, Terhemen ran for a seat in the National Assembly to represent Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency. Despite running a strong campaign, which received much attention, he was undone by party consensus and he accepted the loss of the ticket in good faith. For his sacrifice and loyalty to party, distinguished love for the poor people and state, there is growing optimism that Terhemen’s time might have finally come.
Terhemen Tilley-Gyado is a UK-trained Engineer, seasoned project director, government relations and public policy expert. He spent his early years at Makurdi International School (MIS) and attended Secondary School at the Great Commission Movement’s Bethany Christian Academy in Jos, Plateau State. He acquired a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng.) in Civil Engineering at the University of Nottingham and was competitively selected for a bursarship to specialize in Transport Engineering at Imperial College and University College London, graduating with a Master’s in Transport Engineering (MEng.), and Diploma of Imperial College (DIC).
Upon graduation, Terhemen joined the Institute of Civil Engineers in the U.K and is a Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) registered engineer.
He has a professional track record spanning two decades, during which he has been involved in the conceptualization, design, planning and execution of large scale multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects in Nigeria and the United Kingdom for private and government bodies.
He was head-hunted in 2013 by one of Africa’s leading conglomerates, to deliver a dynamic portfolio of infrastructure projects across Nigeria. He received multiple recognitions for his leadership and performance on the flagship projects. His astuteness in building not only physical infrastructure but also social and political capital, as well as his versatility, and technical depth, led the group to appoint him as head of Government Relations. This provided the opportunity to work on government policy, developing strong inter-governmental networks across multiple sectors including Oil and Gas, Power, Agriculture and Hospitality, at national, state and local level, and in both executive and legislative arms.
This remarkable profile in human and financial management, which belies his young age, resonates with the Benue aristocrats. But aside from the rich profile for the 41-year-old, Terhemen has a lot of other things speaking for him. One of these is a deep connection and appeal with the young people of Benue state. This has been helped by the resonating campaign message of #TodayToday, #GoodTime, and his ability to communicate perfectly in Tiv, Igede, Hausa, and English. The Benue youths who are currently disenchanted with the incumbent Governor Samuel Ortom and PDP, whose administration has been ridden with security and economic crises, are reportedly picking hope in the eloquent, proven builder of wealth and people.
According to sources, some key stakeholders cited his warm nature, humility, exposure, compassion, and wide contacts in the business world as key distinguishing qualities. It was gathered that during the recently held party national convention in Abuja, some Benue delegates could not stop chanting and singing his praise for the warm hospitality and generosity shown to party members in Abuja.
He is widely considered to be a man of compassion who would deeply care for the civil servants and general progress of the people and state, having consistently been engaging with prevailing social and economic issues that are central to the State’s prosperity. For instance, after the 2019 elections, he kept in touch with the grassroots with empowerment and other forms of support for trader women, youths, widows, and physically- impaired people. It was gathered that this has been very helpful in relating with the people and marketing the party, APC.
Described by development experts as a well-developed, simple and practical blueprint, The Good Time: Vision For Benue; an inclusive manifesto anchored on data, covers peace and security, workers’ welfare, economy, digital communications, education, climate and environment, and Agriculture mechanization. If eventually given the ticket, it is believed that a ready, forward-looking man gets it with a mandate to bring back a ‘good time’ in the state.
Quite remarkably, Terhemen Tilley-Gyado’s guber bid is also reportedly favoured by the clout and respect his family commands in the state. The Gyado progenitor, Chief Gerome Gyado, was a wealthy businessman and philanthropist. Terhemen’s father, Senator Jack Tilley-Gyado is also a former senator of Benue North-East and ally of the current Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume. It is being said in many quarters that the Gyados, with a history of philanthropy and business impact across the state and country for close to five decades, could be APC’s best bet to win the state in 2023. This is being touted because TTG combines all the qualities and resources to move the state forward at this time.
