Benue socio-cultural group, Tiv Youth Advancement Vanguard (TYAV) has accused Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom of plotting to imprison his predecessor, Sen. Gabriel Suswam over his ambition to retain the structure of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state ahead of 2023 general elections. The group citing the refusal of Suswam to hand over the PDP ticket to Ortom in 2015 and the fears that he could want to anoint a candidate for the governorship in 2023 which is likely to emerge from his senatorial zone, said the governor was lobbying the graft agencies to ensure that Suswam goes to prison over alleged cases of corruption against him while he serve as governor of the state for 8 years.
The group in a statement signed by its Convener, Barr. Tyohemba Denen in Abuja, Friday expressed concern that the governor’s vindictive posturing was not in the interest of the state but his personal ambition that could deprive the Benue North East senatorial zone of representation in the Senate. It alleged further that though the governor toned down his vendetta against Suwam to curry support for his second term bid, he is now using cronies to stoke up fire for cases of corruption he instigated against him. “Governor Samuel Ortom stretched his vendetta against Suswam by setting up a powerful judicial panel of enquiry led by Justice Elizabeth kpojime to investigate the tenure of Suswam who was Governor between May 29th, 2007 – May 29th, 2015. The panel indicted Suswam to have stolen N107 billion of Benue monies. “Governor Ortom issued a white paper and submitted the findings of the judicial panel to all anti-graft agencies like EFCC, ICPC and all security agencies to make sure Suswam is prosecuted and thrown in prison. This led to the confiscation of all properties belonging to Suswam by the EFCC and ICPC. If Suswam is moving from one court to the other today, it is the handiwork of no other person but Governor Samuel Ortom in his pursuit of vendetta against him. “Thirdly, after the failed amnesty program, Governor Ortom sponsored petitions to DSS suggesting that Sen. Suswam has links with the most wanted militia in Benue state, Mr. Terwase Akwasa Alias GANA. Sen. Suswam was arrested and detained for over 3months without Trial. In another witch-hunt, Suswam was arrested for gun-running and is facing trial for this trump up allegation. This too was done by Gov. Ortom’s agents. “In the build up to 2023 general elections, Governor Ortom sees Suswam as the biggest threat to his desire to foist his gubernatorial candidate on the PDP and also secure a senatorial ticket on the platform of the same party. Reacting, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Terver Akase said, the allegations was the handiwork of the opposition to cause disaffection in the Peoples Democratic Party. He said, the APC in Benue state was jittery ahead of the next election, adding that all Senators from Benue State are one family with the Governor.
