Late Fr Moses Adasu, former Governor of Benue State
JUNE 12: CELEBRATING REV. FR. M.O. ADASU @80
1. We make this Press Statement as Apostles of Very Reverend Father Doctor Moses Orshio Adasu as Nigeria marks Democracy Day on June 12 which coincides with Father Adasu’s Birthday which is June 12, 1945. Our duty is to highlight, acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of Fada Adasu to the political June 12 and its significance to the people and political leadership in Benue State and Nigeria.
2. In his announcement of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the former President Muhammadu Buhari may not have contemplated Fada Adasu or Benue’s role in its construction. But the attention of Nigerians ought to be drawn to the fact that even as a Catholic Priest, Fada Adasu was at the forefront of midwifing a Muslim – Muslim (Abiola – Kingibe) Presidential ticket. This remarkable position underscored his firm belief in power shift and rotation. He explained that if Muslim-Muslim ticket took place Christian-Christian was bound to also emerge sooner or later.
3. With his stand, he was also celebrating both Senator Joseph Sarwuan Tarka and Governor Apollos Aper Aku before him: both advocates of restructuring, power shift and rotation.
4. Imagine Fada Adasu, a Christian Catholic Priest, raising an objection to the 1993 Presidential ticket of his party – the Social Democratic Party (SDP), M.K.O. Abiola’s prospects would have been imperiled.
5. On May 19, 1994 and thereafter, when the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), was birthed in General Adeyinka’s residence in the Ikeja G.R.A, Lagos, Fada Adasu was there to dissuade the Yoruba and South – West from ethnicizing and mismanaging June 12. Fada Adasu, my humble self, and one other northerner from the North – West, spoke to the South – West leadership accordingly.
6. Without ever attempting to go into exile, he stood with NADECO refusing to work with Abacha – even after attempts by Professor Jerry Gana to persuade him to do so. His position on June 12 which providentially is also his birthday, was for justice, and democracy at personal sacrifice.
7. From the foregoing, the inclusion of Very Reverend Father Dr Moses Orshio Adasu on the list of those being honored for their contributions to Democracy in Nigeria would therefore confer more integrity on the pantheon and the exercise. He deserves that honor.
8. Today, while we acknowledge Reverend Father Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia for actualizing the immortalization of Fada Adasu by renaming the State University after him, so much more needs to be done, especially in the context of utilizing his values, attributes, perspectives and vision for Benue State and Nigeria.
9. Today Benue is being run at state and national levels by those who could be described as sons or political offspring of Fada Adasu: The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Dr. George Akume, was Adasu’s Director of Protocol. The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, rode to power on the strength of Fada Adasu’s output as a two- year Governor: Fada Adasu campaigned for him from the grave.
10. From this values medicament, Fada Adasu’s campaign and later governance mantra of healing and reconciliation ought to impact them. Ironically, however, the godfather – godson schism generated post-election between Adasu’s presently most important political sons is festering out of hand.
11. The state is in the midst of one of the most elevated political crises between two political gladiators in its history. This development is unfolding when the state most notable adversaries, the marauding Fulani herders have encircled and are hoping that Benue State and Middle – Belt are plunged into civil strife.
12. As we approach the nomination and re-election season, the crises will assume more ominous combustion. The division in the ranks of these major political gladiators is also approaching the tumultuous season of nomination and re-election when such divisions generate combustion.
13. Benue’s major political actors: Senator Iyorchia Ayu (another Adasu’s son), Barnabas Gemade, David Mark, Gabriel Suswam, Samuel Ortom, traditional and religious leaders, have either taken side or out of cruel indifference or fatigue, given out on efforts for resolution.
14. Critically, the dangerous division between the political gladiators is not based on any discernable vision or policy differences – what Adasu stood for which has also stressed resolution.
15. As we celebrate Fada Adasu at 80, we rededicate ourselves to his attributes and values of self-sacrifice and patriotism which drove his foray into partisan politics. Only a commitment to these values is bound to resolve the several challenges currently confronting Benue State and Nigeria.
16. We warn about the harrowing scenarios that will be birthed by the evolving crises in Benue State – a Rivers State-type state of emergency; an impeachment for the Governor, an expensive re-election primaries and general elections victory for the Governor that gulps billions of naira; and a gubernatorial move-over to El-Rufai Party; Don’t rule out a gubernatorial defeat at the 2027 polls for the sitting Governor; and a defeat for Akume in any scenario. These are ominous options. Anything that will bring healing, reconciliation and peace to the land ahead of nomination and re-election season is the cheaper option. Fanning the embers of the division is actually service to our core adversaries – the Fulani Jihadists.
17. As a priest and man of God, the burden to initiate peace rests largely on the shoulders of the Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Alia. His journey and burden into politics and governance cannot erode his priesthood background which emphasizes the values of love, healing and reconciliation.
DR SEBASTIAN IKYEGH AGBINDA
(Head of the Adasu Political Family)
Department Of Political Science, Rev. Fr. M. Adasu University, Makurdi
