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| Former Gov Suswam |
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| Gov Ortom |
ORTOM HAS 'SWALLOWED' THE BAILOUT, FAILED TO PAY SALARIES AND BROUGHT HUNGER TO BENUE.
Immediate past governor of Benue State, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Torwua Suswam PhD, has lamented that his successor, Gov. Samiel Ortom, has failed so soon in office, with his major undoing being the embezzlement of the bailout loan meant for the payment of salary arrears to workers in the state.
Rt. Hon. Suswam bared his mind today at the extraordinary meeting of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue Zones 'A' and 'B' senatorial districts held at the State Secretariat of the
party in Makurdi, the state capital city.
According to Suswam,
"the APC came to power in Benue State following a campaign of lies and fake promises, and today they have become victim of those same lies, unable to pay salaries and
with hunger all over the state. "After less than a year in office the Ortom government is owing five
months salaries, yet the same governmemt came to power on the propaganda that my administration of eight years owed four months salary arrears."
The former governor stressed further that the Ortom administration has failed to establish any serious focus and has instead being engrossed in a fruitless campaign to pull him down at all cost. "There have been numerous probe panels put in place to find ways of discrediting my tenure of office, yet the same administration probing me is amongst the three which President Buhari has ordered to be probed for mismanagement of the bailout loan out of the close to thirty states which collected the loan."
Rt. Hon. Suswam also expressed concern over the state of hardship and hunger in the state under the APC controlled Ortom administration, as in his words, "even dogs in Benue State have become so lean under the pains of hunger, unlike during the PDP era when there was enough to eat and feed the dogs." He further charged the opposition party faithful to remain steadfast and maintain oneness in their ranks, in the belief that they are going to reclaim the lost glory and power of the party, beginning from the forthcoming local governmemt elections. The former Benue State governor assured the PDP faithful in the state that he will ensure that the popularity and mass appeal of the party is made to count at the next round of elections, as according to him, "no one will be able to rig the PDP out of victory at the local governmemt elections, and in other subsequent ones."Earlier speeches by Deputy-Chairman, Dr. Tsetim Ayargwer, Vice-chairmen for zones 'A' and 'B', Ibrahim Anor and Yandev Amaa-Bai as well as BoT member, Margaret Icheen, all sued for peace, oneness of purpose and discipline amongst party faithful, in the
belief that the party shall recapture power at the next round of elections. Prominent amongst those in attendance at the meeting were the state working committee led by Deputy-Chairman, Dr. Tsetim Ayargwer, state Assembly members of the party, Dominic Ucha, Terna-Kester Kyenge and Ianna Jato, BoT member, Chief Mrs. Margaret Icheen, past House of Reps members, Terngu Tsegba, Cletus Upaa and David Mzenda Iho. Governorship candidate of the PDP at the last election, Dr. Terhemen Tarzoor and co-aspirants, Dr. Tivlimun Nyitse, Engr. Felix Atume and Dr. Eugene Aliegba, Senatorial candidate of the
party for Zone 'B' at the last election, Mike Mku, G-14 chairman,Laha Dzever and members Aker Gajir, David Hwande, Alh. Anyamikegh as well as party stalwart, Richard Gbande. National and State Assembly aspirants of the party at the last election under the auspicies of PDP Strategic Reformation Group led by Kenneth Iyo, Secretary, Sughnen Idyo and members, John Tondo Bob Tyough, Terna Achir, Dickson Igbe, Shirgba Swande, Edward Akuto, Dennis Aernyi and Akua Aper-Aku. Chairman of the National Secretariat Congress Committee of the party to the state, Barr. Caleb Ubale and members of the committee were also in attendance at the meeting.
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