Suswam betrayed me by trying to scuttle my guber ambition – Benue Governor-elect

Samuel Ortom-Gabriel SuswamGovernor-elect of Benue State, Dr Samuel Ortom, is disappointed in the incumbent, Gabriel Suswam, for almost truncating his ambition.

The governor-elect termed Suswam’s action betrayal.

Ortom, who vied for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and lost to Suswam’s anointed candidate, Terhemen Tarzoor, before ending up in the All Progressives Party (APC), told a delegation of  APC leaders from Gboko Local Government Area of the state yesterday how the governor allegedly set out to “undermine my emergence as governor”.

He said he was sad especially considering the crucial role he played in the emergence of Suswam as governor in 2007.

“When our leader, Senator George Akume, directed us on what to do in the run up to the 2007 governorship election I, alongside others, worked tirelessly to ensure that Suswam became governor.

“Even though I am his senior in age and politics, I never abdicated my role as a dedicated party leader.

“When I served under him as national auditor at the PDP headquarters and later as Minister, I never betrayed him nor worked at cross purposes with his intentions.

“I was therefore saddened when he worked to undermine my ambition to be governor of Benue state”, he narrated.

The former minister also spoke on the eight Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) which Suswam recently gave to him, his wife, the deputy governor-elect and his wife.

According to him, the vehicles were statutory obligations of the outgoing administration to the incoming government.

He pledged to discharge his duties in the best interest of the majority of the people and govern with the fear of God.

The Gboko APC chairman and other leaders of the party, who spoke, pledged their commitment to the success of the incoming administration.

Gboko local government returned 55,002 votes, the highest by any local government area, for Ortom in the April 11th elections.