COUNCIL BOSS TAKES TO AGRIBUSINESS TO UPLIFT RESIDENTS
Hon. Jirgba James
The newly inaugurated Chairman, Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State, Hon. Jirgba James is a man with wealth of experience. In this interview with Raphael Mbaiorga, Rhoda Nomhwange and Denen Daniel, the entrepreneur pledged to use his experience to create wealth for the Konshisha people, as well as ensure there is absolute peace and development in the area.
THE TRANSMITTER: How was the feeling when you emerged as the flag bearer of your party (PDP)?
CHAIRMAN: I thank God that it came out my way. It felt good because for the first time in this country, issues of internal democracy were entrenched and all the processes which led to my becoming the party flag bearer were keenly observed by both party stakeholders and the party hierarchy. The party as you know has strategized procedures for selecting candidates for the party. Zoning is very key in this arrangement. From the federal, state and the local government, zoning is instrumental and a vital part of the PDP constitution. Candidates are first favoured by zoning for the purposes of fairness in sharing and particularly the Tiv philosophy of “ya na angbian.” It was on these grounds which I stood and indicated interest for the position of LGA chairman of Konshsisha. The process came out very satisfactorily, not because I emerged as the flag bearer but because of the fairness and the transparency.
THE TRANSMITTER: You must have been selected based on your antecedents?
CHAIRMAN: Yes! First of all, I am a grown up person. I am from the “right zone” in the local government. I have my background in the business sector, which I trust you must have heard about; that qualifies me to think outside the box. Also, I have the right educational qualifications. My business history has given me the capacity to expand on ideas and proffer solutions on developmental projects. I believe I was the right candidate with the capacity to break away from the bureaucratic processes which I believe have made the local government stagnant for many years after its creation. It is an opportunity to right the wrongs. I am of the opinion with those who believe that the right thing must be done. We know all these in business because in business, due process must be followed to avoid unnecessary risk. I believe the story of the local government must be partially considered as a business story, because in business, it is all about profit. This in the local government means bringing nearer to the people dividends of democracy. Giving them exactly the kind of leadership they ever desire.
THE TRANSMITTER: What are your plans to change the fate of the grassroots government, premising your plans on business strategies?
CHAIRMAN: Expectations are high. The people of Konshisha want to tell a new story. They want to sing a new song because they are already saturated with broken promises. People are visibly disadvantaged by poverty. All my people need is that person and that thing which will give them hope for a better life.
THE TRANSMITTER: Sir, your personality speaks more of an entrepreneur. With this kind of background, how do you intend to capitalize on the local resources to bring about development in the local government?
CHAIRMAN: I am very sure my people saw the potentials in me as an entrepreneur and that was why they needed me the most. I have the right ideas on how to convert resources into money. My coming on seat as the chairman is to lead the search for the needed resources in order to transform the local government. As a businessman, I have been into contact with many financial institutions from where funds can be affordably sourced for development. As a local government, we will explore the opportunities available in the value chain production. There is every need for the cultivation of more hectares of land. Aside agriculture, we will also embark on exploration of our natural resources. Not long ago I was at Seragi Rocks. It is a place where if we deploy the right equipment, the quarry will produce one of the finest granites in the country and that in turn, will generate an unprecedented IGR for the local council. Talks are already at advance stages with banks and other financiers for counterpart funding and when this is realized, I bet Konshisha local government will distinguish herself from other local governments.
THE TRANSMITTER: former chairmen and their lamented they could not keep to their promises due to party and stakeholders’ interferences. How do you intend to do away with all these and sustain your position?
CHAIRMAN: If you really have known how I emerged as the consensus candidate, you will appreciate the hand of God in everything. Party and stakeholders will always be there. However, I got a popular endorsement from all concerned in the electoral process and I therefore believe there won’t be much interferences. If for the past forty years you haven’t seen a chairman without a godfather, you are talking to one today.
THE TRANSMITTER: How do you intend to tackle issues of security in the council?
CHAIRMAN: I am a business consultant. Bottleneck situations are more prevalent in the business sector. How I have been successful in all these gives me the needed confidence in tackling security challenges. It is all about organizing a house in an orderly manner. No breach of security happens overnight. These crises are discussed among the people before they take place. It is about opening up channels of communication with the people and ensuring information is treated with confidentiality and timely dissemination of same. When people are not properly engaged, they break law and order easily. People need to be more engaged. On the other aspect of engagement, we need more platforms of dialogue where there will be chances of deeper discussions and conclusions. As a leader, you need to be closer to your people in order to understand how exactly they feel and discuss about these issues. People should be made to know the implications of their actions and inactions. They should be constructively engaged in the peace building process.
THE TRANSMITTER: What is your opinion on the farmers/herders clashes?
CHAIRMAN: I may not be exact but I think the first wave of farmers/herders clashes started in Konshisha in 1984. There was a Fulani man who lived in one of the villages and at a point; he was joined by his brother. On a particular day, the cattle of this brother grazed into the farmland of one of the villagers and when the villager protested, the Fulani man slaughtered the wife of the farmer who was heavily pregnant with twins. The brother to the bereaved who was known as “Twenty Kobo” and also a retired army officer was angered by the incident and soon after it, left the local government to Taraba state. After six months, he returned and took everything personal. He made sure no Fulani was left residing in the then, Vandeikya LGA. I don’t know how he did it but it was serious issue. What is happening today is just a show of arrogance on the side of the herders. The state law prohibiting the culture of open grazing is very clear. It provides level ground for all; farmers and herders alike. It is my intention for the local government to domesticate the law as it suits our situation, as a means of tackling the herder/farmers clashes.
THE TRANSMITTER: How do you intend to tackle youth restiveness in the council?
CHAIRMAN: In business consultancy, we diagnose businesses to know why others prosper while others fail. It is similar to medicine. The same processes are required to know why youths are quick towards some of the vices. Idleness among youths has reached an alarming state. Perhaps the past governments treated issues with lackadaisical attitudes and today, we are confronted with a situation which is not desirable. Youths are a precious asset in any society. So, it is incumbent on any person in position of authority to take quicker steps towards addressing issues of youth restiveness. The goals to achieve a healthy youth must be put on three segments: long, medium and short terms. When youths are restive, they develop appetite for “quick money” and this can lead to crime. There is every need to encourage the youth to engage in agriculture through sustainable provision of loans and farming inputs. There should also be consistent moves in providing the youths with payable jobs. Konshisha has a wild forest which makes it possible for commercial bee keeping for honey. International trade crisis should serve as an advantage for the local product of honey for exportation. China is at trade with America that makes Bangladesh the sole supplier of honey to America. When opportunities like these are carefully explored, our youths will be engaged. It is about marketing strategies. We need to redefine our industries. There is every need to promote the Made in Nigeria revolution. Nigeria consumes far higher than she produces. We must use what we produce and produce what we use. When small and medium enterprises are unconditionally funded, production will increase and the corresponding result will be about a prosperous nation. We need to conscientize our people to these possibilities.
THE TRANSMITTER: With COVID19 as a setback, how do you see yourself achieving all these in two years?
CHAIRMAN: This God we always talk about is faithful. I have already told you how I am going to get my money. There is a company we are going to co-found. It will be owned by the indigenes of Konshisha local government. As a company, it will have legal capacity to borrow money. The company is going to outlive my tenure of two years. On the other hand, two years are enough. The whole world was created in six days. I have two farming seasons. If we go into bee keeping and cultivate more hectares of land, whatever be the proceeds from our enterprises will ensure construction of culverts on one of the roads. There is undue hardship in the land. People still carry crops on their heads to cross streams which ordinarily do not require up to a million naira to bridge. We are in the 21st century. Due to the bad state of roads and unabridged streams, Konshisha markets are deprived of revenue from local farmers who are forced tp patronize markets in other local governments. In my tenure, there will be aggressive attack on infrastructural deficit in the Local Government, so that the local government will be connected to Konshisha for purpose of boosting our IGR.
THE TRANSMITTER: Any word for the People of Konshisha?
CHAIRMAN: My constant call to the people of Konshisha has been for them to brace up for new challenges and world order; the way we think; a ctions and inactions should always reflect responsible people. We must be able to identity our needs clearly and also understand that yesterday is not same as today. For us as a people, to think concurrently with new world, we must be able to make internal reconciliations with our differences, grow taller and see above barriers.
