Former Benue State governor, Senator Gabriel Torwua Suswam, on Thursday, maintained that there is no divide between the current governor, Hyacinth Alia, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume, and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.
Suswam disclosed this while noting that Alia and Akume have reconciled their differences after a major APC stakeholders’ meeting at the State Government House in Makurdi, the State capital.
Suswam spoke on Arise Television’s Morning Show against the backdrop of his victory at the APC primaries in the state.
The former governor emerged 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.
Speaking on his victory, Suswam said: “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.”
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.”
Suswam further mentioned that Alia remains the political father of Benue State, adding that they are all seeking his support.
“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,” he added.