By Ben Young
The former spokesperson of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue state Bemgba Iortyom has finally bagged a Bachelor of Law (LL.B) degree from the Benue State University, thirty years after he made the first attempt to study law.
Iyotyom first enrolled at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife in 1993 for a law programme at the age of 24 but was forced to abort his dream in the third year due to what he say were “reasons of personal safety.”
In a post on his Facebook page celebrating his graduation from the Benue state University, Iortyom claimed that his involvement in Student Union politics during the regime of the late military dictator General Sani Abacha, over the June 12 presidential election forced him to abandon the programme.
Not done yet, the PDP chieftain nine years after first attempt, in 2002, was was admitted to Benue State University Makurdi to study law. Even this time, Chief Iyotyom had to withdraw from the programme not for his personal safety but to “get married and raise a family.”
Since he was not financially stable enough to combine family life with academic pursuit, he sacrificed his life ambition of being a lawyer temporarily to concentrate on raising a family.
“The third and successful attempt started in a second coming at the BSU Faculty of Law in 2017, 14 years after I abandoned the 2nd effort, and culminated, this time in success in 2023, exactly 30 years after I took the first step” he wrote.
Expectedly, as a politically exposed person, his serial attempt at studying law exposed him to insults and trolling from his political opponents and critics. His story drew hordes of response from his friends and followers on Facebook with some praising his resilience while other continue to troll him.
But rather than discouraging him, he turned the insults and trolling that he endured from his political opponents to “motivation and hardiness of spirit” that kept him going until graduation.
“I’m supremely proud of the Second Class (Lower Division) Class degree I made. It is my ‘First Class’ gotten while shouldering the onerous task of spokesperson of the Benue State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as fending for a family and a vast clan of dependents. This time God Almighty blessed me with the material strength to combine all of those with studies successfully,” he added.
The PDP bigwig said he hoped that his chequered quest for a law degree inspires someone never to give up on dreams.
“Surely, there will be obstacles out there along the way – those who will mock you. But there will also be those who will encourage you. In the final account, it is what you believe deep inside of you that will matter. Pursue your dream, by all means pursue it,” he said.
