By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Group known as Concerned Benue Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stakeholders drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state, Thursday, in Makurdi, endorsed former governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam to fill the vacant office of the national chairman of the PDP created as a result of the exit of a Benue son, Dr Iorchia Ayu, who was removed through a controversial court process.
Presenting Senator Suswam as sole candidate for office of national championship from the state for endorsement to the stakeholders through a motion, moved by former National Assemly member representing Gboko/Tarka federal constituency and speaker pro-tempo, Terngu Tsegba, described Senator Suswam as competent and experienced party man who has served the PDP judiciously both as two time member House of Representatives, governor of Benue State and senator, all on the platform of the PDP.
He added that Senator Suswam was equally conversant with the challenges of the party at the moment as an active player and would do the needful to revive the party.
The stakeholders unanimously through a voice vote approved the sole candidature of the aspirant for the national chairmanship office of the PDP as moved by Tsegba, and directed the state working committee of the party in Benue to forward their resolution to the zonal office of the party for onward presentation to the National Working Committee, NWC of the PDP for approval.
In a welcome remark, chairman of the group, a former governorship aspirant in the state Dr Paul Ubwa, said the stakeholders decided to reduce tension by narrowing the contest through their resolutions to mobilize support for Senator Suswam, adding that the aspirant possesses the requisite credentials to help the party bounce back to victory in the next general election.
Professor Nicholas Ada, former minister of foreign affairs who spoke as guest speaker at the occasion said it was logical to support Suswam whom he noted as the only aspirant that has followed due process in his aspiration by intimating all stakeholders, expressing optimism that his emergence would revive the party given his vast experience as a lawmaker and former governor.
Maurice Tsav speaking on behalf of zone A recalled that when Bamanga Tukur from the north east then could not complete his tenure for obvious reasons as national chairman of the PDP, other candidates from the same zone were brought to complete the term, stressing that Benue would feel shortchanged if Suswam would nor be made to complete Ayu’s tenure.
Other speakers including Dr Laha Dzever- Zone B, Chris Abah- C and Susan Waya on behalf of women both described the former Benue governor, Suswam as competent party man with vast political experience to serve as national chairman of the PDP, especially at this trying moment to help the party bounce back to power.