•’Benue people made me governor’
Ex-Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam yesterday asked his predecessor, Senator George Akume, to stop playing God.
He said although he acknowledged Akume’s contributions to his emergence as governor in 2007, it was the people and not Akume that made him governor.
Suswam said it is wrong of Akume to arrogate to himself the authority of God, who alone elevates those he chooses to positions of power and authority.
Suswam, who made his position known in a statement in Abuja, said it was wrong of Akume to arrogate to himself the authority of God Almighty.
Said he: “Senator Akume is not God and therefore, he cannot claim to be the only person who solely determines what happens politically in Benue State. “The allegation of embezzlement levelled against me by my predecessor is a political statement meant to undermine my achievements in office.
“I am not a criminal. Senator Akume should note that I delivered on my mandate as governor by serving the people who voted me into office.”
Suswam said it was time Akume should be told to stop playing God.
He challenged his predecessor to list his achievements as governor so that the people could compare the two.
Suswam said Akume was being haunted by his poor performance as a governor.
The senator had said he “regretted ensuring that Gabriel Suswam became Benue State Governor”.
His words: “I regret because I had no premonition that my successor would embezzle the state’s funds.”
Akume said his intention of making Suswam a governor to bring development to the state was frustrated because of his (Suswam’s) corrupt activities in office.
Suswam described Akume’s allegations as baseless and unfounded.
He said the records of how Akume managed the state’s funds were still intact and a matter of public knowledge.
Suswam said: “If pushed to the wall, I will have no option but to petition the relevant authorities to investigate and possibly prosecute the former Senate Minority Leader.”