Attah Ede, Makurdi
Erstwhile governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam, on Tuesday alleged that the majority of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s kinsmen are seriously working against the governor and frustrating his 2027 re-election.
Senator Suswam made this allegation during Governor Alia’s town hall meeting and interaction with his Jechira people in Vandeikya, Vandeikya Local Government Area, in continuation of his thank-you tour across the state.
He therefore urged Alia’s kinsmen to be united and speak in one voice so as to enable Governor Alia to triumph in 2027.
Suswam, however, blamed the two speakers from the Konshisha and Vandeikya axis, the Nom Ikyegh U Konshisha, Hon. Clement Azuanongo, and Alhaji Adzer Ihongo, who seemed not open in their speeches on the re-election during their remarks.
He cautioned that the forces against Governor Alia may defeat the re-election if the Jechira people decided against unity and left their son with only one term in office as governor, contrary to what other blocs did in the state.
The former federal lawmaker announced that other blocs like Sankera and Kwande in Benue North East Senatorial District have endorsed Alia’s re-election.
He insisted that Jechira must not fail to give a block vote to their son in 2027 to escape defeat by opponents, particularly the perceived godfathers from Benue North West.
On the strength of the above position, Suswam urged the Kyan and Tiev people to put aside disunity, close ranks and work for the success of Alia’s re-election.
But Suswam delivered tough words also to Governor Alia over the decision taken on the appointment of over one hundred Vandeikya kinsmen.
He lamented that the numerous appointments, according to him, appeared not to have made a positive impact, but had added pressure to the 2027 re-election process.
On his part, Governor Alia warned that the failure to support his re-election in 2027 would greatly expose the entire Jechira interest.
He added that any such defeat would not be personal to himself, but to the entire Jechira.
He appealed for greater support to enable him to win his re-election.
