Mr. “Infrastructure” Gabriel Suswam, the Governor of Benue State has proven that he is a leader with the love of his people and is committed to ensuring rapid development of his state. His good intentions on assumption of office to alleviate the suffering conditions of Benue people made him to embark on life-changing projects most of which he has carefully executed to a logical conclusion. We are talking about a leader who does not play to the gallery nor one who plays politics with the welfare of the people.
A predominantly agrarian society, Benue State was hitherto in a messy underdevelopment situation particularly in critical areas of infrastructure and physical projects. Think of how the deplorable roads were left in shambles, schools were not given facelift, public hospitals were underperforming as some of them became “mere consulting clinics”. The sports sector like the transport system were in a pathetic state requiring urgent attention. Similarly, the provision of pipe – born water, conducive housing, and other such amenities that make life worth living were in many places grossly inadequate. Other sectors of the state’s economy like security, information and communication, tourism, commerce and industrial development among others, were faced with various challenges.
Benue’s turning point came in 2007 with the assumption of office of Governor Gabriel Suswam. A visionary leader, Suswam showed that he had a clear mission of improving the people’s conditions of living through infrastructural development thereby bequeathing lasting legacies to the upcoming generations.
That Benue State has witnessed unprecedented achievements under the administration of Governor Suswam is today glaring and indisputable. Uncountable development projects executed by this pragmatic leader have earned him nickname of ‘Mr. Infrastructure’.
Governor Suswam took over a deplorable rural and urban road network. But today, he has completed over 500 kilometers of these roads within the state. These include, 65 kilometres Orokam-Owukpa-Okpoga-Utonkon road; and others that are awaiting to be commissioned. The prioritized construction of an extensive road network in the state is primarily targeted at providing adequate access to and from the rural communities so as to revitalize and boost agriculture which is the mainstay of the state’s economy.
To boost agriculture, the Suswam administration procured and distributed 147 tractors to farmers to enhance mechanized farming. This has been supported by timely procurement and distribution of assorted brands of fertilizers and improved seeds to farmers, as well as acquisition of modern knapsack sprayers for teeming farmers for weed control. The state government entered into partnership with the University of Iowa to achieve improved animal and crop production, processing, mechanization and training which is manifested by the establishment of a modern piggery farm situated at the Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture Yandev in Gkoko local government area.
Ensuring a significant infrastructural progress in the area of education, Governor Gabriel Suswam has, in the sector of science and information technology, seen to the establishment of three functional technical colleges in the three senatorial districts, the rehabilitation or construction of classrooms in the secondary and primary schools across the state. The governor has also intervened in the provision of infrastructure in the tertiary institutions by which his latest undertaking is the construction of an ultramodern female hostel and a world class Faculty of Law complex at Benue State University, Makurdi.
Governor Suswam also gave due attention to healthcare infrastructure as can be seen in the completion and new General Hospitals and the renovation of existing general hospitals in the 23 LGAs of the state. His intervention in the purchase of ambulances, drugs and modern health equipment transformed the delivery capacity of the General Hospitals for the better. The completion of the gigantic Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) is a signature project that was commissioned on March 9, 2012 with fanfare by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Apart from these, a gigantic water processing facility-the Greater Makurdi water works which has a capacity of 100,000 cubic meters per day was completed and commissioned the same day with the Teaching Hospital by Mr. President during his official visit to Benue state. Alongside, Governor Suswam has Other water projects in Otukpo and Katsina-Ala were completed to cater for the needs of the people of those areas.
As a lover of sports, Suswam has committed adequate funds into the total renovation of the Aper Aku stadium which the attention given to sport facilities has greatly helped the state owned Lobi stars football club to record appreciable performance at national sports events.
Electrification of urban and rural communities is another key area which Governor Suswam has delivered creditably well. His administration has completed and commissioned electricity projects to over 300 communities. The objective is to stimulate economic activities in the rural communities with the resultant positive impact on reducing poverty, generating employment and creating wealth.
For a state famously confronted with dire security challenges, apart from enhancing peace and harmonious coexistence among the people, the Governor has acquired and donated operational vehicles including Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), as well as communication gadgets to various security agencies in the state especially the Police to enhance their efficiency in the fight against crime.
There is no doubt that Governor Suswam has written the name of his administration on the sands of history. He has proven that he is leader with the interest of the people at heart, an exemplary leader who does what he says and who keeps his promises with the people.
As he marks his golden age of 50, it is an auspicious time for him to do so because he is a role model, quintessential public servant and an epitome of hope to all and sundry.
