Former Governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Torwua Suswam, has said Governor Hyacinth Alia remains the political father of the state, and they are all seeking his support.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Suswam spoke on Arise Television’s Morning Show, dismissing the insinuation of division between Governor Alia, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the state.
Suswam said Governor Alia and Akume have reconciled their differences after a major APC stakeholders’ meeting at the State Government House in Makurdi, the State capital.
He said, “The governor is the political father of the state as of now so everybody must seek the support of the governor.
“So all of us are seeking the support of the governor and I thank God that I emerged victorious in the nomination process.
“It’s the APC part that I belong to. A few weeks ago under the instrumentality of Mr President all of us were called by the governor in Benue including the SGF and stakeholders of APC in Benue to the Government House.
“We held a very impressive reconciliation meeting and at the end of the meeting both the governor and the SGF made statements to the people indicating that reconciliations have taken place.
“There is no divide in Benue as far as I know and am concerned.”
Speaking about his victory at the APC primaries in the state, the former governor also dismissed claims of belonging to any faction in the state APC.
He added, “I was nominated and contested under the platform of the APC, not the platform of the SGF or the governor.”
Recall that Suswam emerged the winner of the Benue North East, Zone A, APC Senatorial Primary election after polling 131,083 votes.
Suswam defeated his closest rival and incumbent senator, Emmanuel Memga Udende, in the keenly contested primary election conducted across the seven local government areas of Katsina-Ala, Logo, Ukum, Konshisha, Vandeikya, Kwande and Ushongo.