The Nation in its edition of Sunday, November 18, 2012 published a highly sensational article in which it desperately tried, unsuccessfully though, to paint a picture of a non-existent political rift between Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State and the Senate President Senator David Alechenu Mark.
In an article titled “Benue 2015: It’s Mark versus Suswam”, one Dare Odufowokan issues that he has nothing to support or prove in the guise of analysis of the political current.
In one instance, he wrote of factions in the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State; struggle for the control of the House of Assembly leading to the “removal of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly by a group of legislators loyal to Senator Mark.” In yet another instance, the writer alleged he is in battle with Suswam over the 2015 governorship election in the state.
Governor Suswam finds these allegations and insinuations as most unfortunate as they are baseless, patently untrue and deliberately cooked up by certain political interests in the state who would like to have a situation of political misunderstanding between the two leaders of the state.
For the avoidance of doubt, it has to be placed on record that Governor Suswam has never had reason for a major disagreement on any political matter with the Senate President since both of them have forged a nearly perfect understanding in their working relationship which often ends with consensus on most issues.
Secondly, the PDP state executive committee is not factionalized, neither was it rendered illegal by the National Executive Committee of the party as grossly misrepresented by the article under reference. Contrary to the false claims, the state Congress of the party actually took place and the
candidates for the various positions were returned in accordance with the provisions of the party’s constitution. It is therefore the height of ignorance or mischief to insinuate that the executive committee was imposed on the party by Governor Suswam.
The most bizarre of the erroneous claims contained in the said article is the recent change of leadership in the Benue State House of Assembly which the writer blamed on the struggle for the soul of the House by the two political leaders.
In actual fact, this claim is far from the truth as the crisis in the House had nothing to do with political differences between Senator Mark and Governor Suswam. In fact, contrary to the distorted facts put out in pursuit of selfish political interests, the Speaker, Hon David Iorhemba, was not removed but resigned from office due to a prolong face-off with his colleagues over alleged misconduct.
The 2015 governorship election is at the moment not a contentious issue in Benue political circles, since neither Governor Suswam nor Senator Mark has made a statement on his preferred candidate or where the position should be zoned to. It, therefore, amounts to a chase of shadow to write about an imaginary political rift on the basis of a governorship race that has not been flagged off..
It is pertinent to inform the good people of Benue state that Governor Suswam’s concern now is to deliver on his promises to the people of the state by working on policies that will bring out reduction of poverty while creating wealth for the teeming population of the state and would not be distracted by a non-existent political conflict with any of the leaders of the state. For the records, the governor has always held the position that the issue of who succeeds him is a decision to be taken by the people of the state and their leaders at the appropriate time and not by himself alone. His position on this very important political topic has not changed.
Governor Suswam and Senator Mark have maintained an excellent public and private relationship over the years, built on mutual respect for the offices they occupy and out of the shared concern for the progress and development of the state. The two leaders are resolved to continue to work together in the interest of the people they represent. Therefore, no amount of machinations by enemies of the state will change their commitment to the development of the state.
• Akwaya is media aide to Governor Suswam
