The Need to Encourage the Man Chief Dr. Terkura Suswam

NEWS COMMENTARY

By

Dr. Dzungwe T. Solomon (JP), a Public Affairs Analyst/Writer on Current Affairs

The Need to Encourage the  Man Chief Dr. Terkura Suswam.

Born in 1962 to the noble parentage of Zaki Suwam Tingir and Chief Mrs. Ashiawua Suswam Tingir at Anyiin, Gaambe-Tiev, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, Chief  Dr Terkura Joseph Suswam, a born philanthropist and peace-maker embarked on academic journey of life in 1969, starting from elementary level to tertiary institution. He successfully bagged a Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D in 2009 with Benue State University, Makurdi.

A highly resourceful scholar of Diplomatic History, Chief Dr Terkura Suswam continued to demonstrate his academic talent. His excellent presentation at the Viva Voce inspired the panellists, led by professor Toyin Falola of the University of Texas who recommended him for instant appointment at the Benue State University where he currently utilises his reservoir of knowledge as a visiting lecturer in the History Department.

As a born philanthropist and peace-maker, Dr. Terkura Suswam did not confine his ocean of knowledge to only academics but diversified it to politics and business so as to speedily actualise effectively his philanthropic and peace-making spirit.

In the field of politics, the political enigma has made significant contributions within and without Benue state. His involvement into politics became necessary when he cleverly discovered that, engaging in the process of charting a new political direction for the state was the fundamental touchstone in the way forward. He then became actively involved in shaping the political direction of the state.

While swimming successfully in the pool of politics in Nigeria, Dr. Suswam discovered salient problems of his lovely people and was inspired to serve humanity where he was deeply inebriated into it.        Having studied the culture, nature and structure of Benue state, the business tycoon realised that one of the fundamental setbacks of the state is unemployment and again resolved to set up business centres of international repute.

Today, through his numerous business outlets such as Ashitech Global Resources, Ashitech Digital Colour Separation, Ashi Waves Radio F.M. 99.9, Ashi Rice Milling Farm and Ashitech Integrated Farm as well as Ashi Polytechnic, Anyiin among others, a good number of youths have been employed, a venture that made him the highest private employer of labour in the state. Other projects like the establishment of Bank of Agriculture and Ashi School of Health Technology at Anyiin, including Chinese and Intercontinental Eatery in Makurdi are on the way.

Like his fellow Nigerian philanthropists such as Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu, Mike Adenuga, and Raymond Dokpesi as well as his foreign counterparts, William Wilberforce, Bill Gate, Mother Theresa, Arthur Guiness, Michael Jackson and Dolly Parton, the distinguished son of Nigeria and born humanitarian has consistently dedicated his commitment to the services of humanity by diffusing his personal resources in addressing the critical and basic infrastructural needs of the society especially at the grassroots.

Some of his self-sponsored community based projects include: the construction of a 4-bedroom block and renovation of principal’s office for Gaambe-Tiev Community Secondary School, Anyiin; construction of a gigantic Catholic church building at Ikyȏchi and the construction of a major street at Anyiin, Logo local government area of Benue state.

In 2012, the born humanitarian initiated a project of roofing people’s houses upon erection, a project that encouraged over 250 beneficiaries.

The Chief Executive Officer of Ashitech Conglomerate, Chief Dr Terkura Suswam has settled hospital bills of patients at NKST Anyiin, Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi and Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi at different times. A very few among the beneficiaries are: Mr. Joseph Aondoungwa, Member Friday, Mrs. Doosuur Donatus and Miss Doosuur Joseph, a 17 year old girl whose ailment made the father to abandon her.

That is not all; Chief Joseph Suswam has paid fines for inmates of the three prisons in Benue state to the tune of seven hundred thousand naira and donated clothes worth one point six million naira to inmates at the Makurdi, Gboko and Otukpo prisons respectively.

Moreover, it could also be recalled that when some Idoma residents of Jos, Plateau state were displaced by the crisis and returned to Benue in order to seek refuge, the lover of humanity was touched and quickly donated relief materials, including 12 motorcycles, one hundred bags of rice and five hundred thousand naira cash to them.

Like the biblical Joseph, the son of Jacob, Joseph Suswam has recently donated relief materials worth over five hundred thousand naira and undisclosed amount of money to dejected youths of the Tiv/Fulani crisis in Iorza, Tse-Igbul, and Mue-Akaaer in conjunction with the donation of assorted materials worth over four hundred and fifty thousand naira to Saint Michael’s Catholic Church, Adedem and NKST Church, Chembe in Gaambe-Tiev, Logo local government area of the state. His on-going radio jingle, calling on internally displaced people of Gaambe-Tiev to return home and his planned tour to visit and distribute seedlings of various kinds to them cannot also be disregarded and discarded.

It is due to his immeasurable contributions to the socio-economic and religio-political development of Benue state that Tor Tiv the Fourth, HRH OrchivirighDr Alfred Akawe Torkula conferred on him the chieftaincy title of Zege Iwanger i Tiv, which means The Great Illumination of Tiv. It was also in recognition of these outstanding commitments to the well being of his people that he was unanimously elected the Tor Sankera by kingmakers, a position they believed he would effectively use for the protection of his people and the projection of peace, unity and progress.

His devotion to community development equally attracted him international acclaim and recognition when a United Nation Body, House of Fame conferred on him the award of Pillar of Community Development at the Museveni Hall in Rome, Italy.   

While some public affairs analysts attributed his humanness and generosity to his religious background, others attributed it to parental influence since his father; Zaki Suswam Tingir Dom Agya was a generous Chief, an attribute that attracted the attention of Tiv popular singers of his time.

The Zege Iwanger i Tiv is not unaware of the sermon on the Mountain’s “Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called sons of God”. He is equally aware of the proverbial phrase “an eye for an eye makes the world blind”. This explains why the peace loving son of Gaambe Tiev has constantly dedicated his life in crusading for peace.

For instance, when the Tiv/Fulani crisis in Gaambe-Tiev was becoming so increasingly to infinitesimal, Chief Suswam took the matter upon his shoulders and left no stone unturned to ensure that the persistent killing and displacement of his people was permanently tackled.

He employ peaceful and lawful approaches by writing letters to the immediate past president of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, the then president-elect, Gen. Mohammedu Buhari, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant Gen. Kenneth Minima and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase.

The political enigma and business mogul also had series of meetings with the Benue state police commissioner and the Commandant, 72 Battalion, Makurdi which led to the deployment of both military and mobile police officers in Gaamber-Tiev who are hitherto, patrolling the affected area.

Equally worth mentioning is the recent peace initiative, initiated by Chief Dr Terkura Suswam where Gaambe-Tiev Tiv elders and Fulanis played a novelty football match at Anyiin and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Tiv of Gaambe-Tiev and Fulanis residing in the area.

His recent efforts towards the restoration of peace in Gaambe-Tiev prompted distinguished Benue politicians, traditional and religious leaders to acknowledge and commend him. Notable among them are the executive governor of Benue state, Dr. Samuel Ortom, Tor Tiv IV, Alfred Akawe Tokula and the Dean, Ugba Deanery, Diocese of Katsina-Ala, Rev. Dr. Nicolas Adumbu who described Chief Suswam as a Great Ambassador of Christ.

How then can we complement the eternal efforts of our God given born philanthropist and peace-maker? Our youths are expected to answer this question because the government, politicians, traditional and religious leaders have played role.

Our youths should know that through violence, they may solve a problem but that single solution will end up planting more seeds of violence which often germinate killings, destruction of property and displacement of people.

While calling on prominent Benue sons and daughters to emulate our born philanthropist and peacemaker, we enjoin the Pillar of Community Development,  Chief Dr. Terkura Suswam to sustain his magnanimity and peace-making, after all givers never lack.