We saw a news report with the caption ‘Former Benue Governor Suswam threatens to dump PDP, gives reasons’ and our initial reaction was that of excitement that at last, the man who is doing everything to destroy and bury the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State is leaving the party.
Suswam told a group of his supporters on Sunday in Makurdi that “If we think there’s an alternative we explore those alternatives.” This means he has seen no more hope in his chances of becoming PDP National Chairman.
The true reason behind Suswam’s decision to decamp to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is to save himself from being convicted and sentenced to jail over the N3.1 billion fraud scandal. The former governor of Benue State is being tried at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja for allegedly selling Benue State shares and converting the sum of N3.1 billion which in 2014 was the equivalent of $15.8 million delivered to him in cash at his Maitama house, Abuja by one Abubakar Umar, a bureau de change operator.
The case is not looking good for Suswam and only way he thinks he can escape the long arm of the law is to defect to APC and seek refuge. There are reliable indications that Governor Alia has promised to guarantee his protection from further prosecution and conviction if he moves to APC. He is deceiving those following him but the real reason for his “threat” to leave the party is to avoid the impending jail sentence. This decision is a last ditch attempt to save himself from humiliation after his plot with governor Alia to hijack the PDP structures failed.
Suswam’s exit from PDP will be good riddance to bad rubbish. In recent times, he has caused more harm to the party than good. He is of no more good value to the party. Suswam is now more valuable to Governor Hyacinth Alia than the PDP. How we wish that he joins Alia tomorrow.
Suswam refused to follow any procedure when the PDP began conducting congresses at the ward, local government and state levels. When the congresses were being held, he travelled to the United States and didn’t attend any of the congresses. He rather instructed his supporters to drag the party to court only to later declare that he had set up a state working committee.
Since he indicated interest to become the National Chairman of the PDP, Suswam has been on collision course with other leaders of the party, particularly former Governor Samuel Ortom, Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the entire G-5. He sponsors people to heavily insult those he perceives as his opponents in the media, so as to appear as the only good person in the party. Suswam’s penchant for engaging in unstatesmanlike attacks against fellow party members and other public figures is unbecoming of a leader. He needs a different turf where such behaviour is acceptable.
No day passes without Suswam raining insults on the Acting National Chairman of PDP, Umar Damagum and other members of the National Working Committee. He hates Damagum with passion. His desperation took him to television stations where he also launched severe attacks on President Bola Tinubu whom he described as a “total failure”.
Senator Suswam is at his wits end after several desperate and failed attempts to destroy our party and hand its structures to Governor Hyacinth Alia. His frantic bid to cling to relevance within the party have not only been misguided but have also raised serious concerns about his integrity and commitment to democratic values.
By misleading a group of some PDP members in Benue State into believing that he is on the cusp of assuming a national leadership role, he has demonstrated a troubling disconnect from reality and a blatant disregard for the democratic process.
Suswam’s last-gap move to set up a fake state working committee and make Christian Abah chairman despite the election of the authentic State Working Committee of the party led by Hon. Ezekiel Adaji as approved by the National Working Committee of the party is particularly shocking and alarming. Abah’s past indictment for forgery and perjury, coupled with a court ruling that perpetually bars him from holding any public office has confirmed the fact that Suswam is inflating a punctured tyre. It is unacceptable for a former governor who should know better to surround himself with individuals who have been found guilty of serious offenses, undermining the integrity of the PDP and damaging the party’s reputation in the eyes of the public.
We encourage him to hasten his departure and allow our great party, the PDP to breathe fresh air again!
Signed:
Hon. Terna Shintoho
For Concerned PDP Youths
22nd October, 2024