Gov Suswam's Camp Takes A Swipe At Senator Gemade Over His Recent Interview On Harvest Fm.

Governor Gabriel Suswam's camp has taken a swipe at Senate Gemade's recent comments on harvest Fm.In this press release sent out by James Uloko Director, Media Affairs.

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The Benue State Governor, Excellency Rt. Hon. Gabriel Suswam Ph.D CON, has noted with great disappointment statement made today by Senator Gemade (Benue-North-East) on the Harvest FM Makurdi live phone-in programme, “Democracy and the People”.In the one hour programme Senator Gemade tried to disparage the person of Governor Suswam through vexatious, malicious and unsubstantiated statements with intent to raise tension in the state at the eve of the scheduled ward congresses of the PDP. It is obvious that Senator Gemade has chosen this day to launch for the umpteenth time, his tirades against the governor with the hope of salvaging his sinking political ship. He has however, failed in his bid as the people  of Benue North-East have since discovered his lackluster leadership hence the resolve to replace him in the 2015 general elections. In order not to allow this misinformation to settle down in the minds of unsuspecting members of the public we wish to make the following clarifications:

PDP WARD CONGRESSES
The PDP ward congresses scheduled for this weekend in all the 23 LGAs of the state is a national political activity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sanctioned by INEC with approved guidelines regulating the conduct of the exercise. The National Secretariat of the party has already constituted a committee to oversee the exercise in Benue and the committee is handling the exercise in accordance with the guidelines from the national secretariat of the party. His Excellency Governor Suswam is not involved in the exercise and has not hijacked the whole or any part of the process. Senator Gemade’s insinuation that the nominations forms for the delegates election have been bought by the governor is nonsensical, and illogical and most irresponsible of the person of the Senator of the Federal Republic.On the contrary there is evidence that Senator Gemade has procured delegate forms from unauthorized sources which he has distributed to his preferred candidates for the delegates election. Senator Gemade, is advised to to leave the governor alone and be prepared to face the wrath of party members at the Benue-North-East Senatorial District because of his abysmal performance with his imminent rejection at the primaries by PDP members.Senator Gemade’s brazen accusation of the Suswam administration as one that thrives on cheating in all aspects of government business like conduct of local government elections, distribution of government resources, conduct of party affairs etc. is wicked, trivial and dishonourable.  The same Senator Gemade who has been speaking in glowing terms about the successes of the Suswam administration and the excellent leadership qualities of Governor Suswam has only suddenly discovered that the administration is one that thrives on cheating, simply because he is locked in the senatorial contest with the governor.  It is indeed a big shame and unbecoming of a Senator.


PAYMENT OF SALARIES
While the Governor regrets the slight delay in payment of salaries to workers in the state, he condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempt by Senator Gemade to play politics with such a serious issue. The state government’s financial position has been weakened by the gross reduction in the accruals from the Federation Account, a situation that has adversely affected government expenditure including payment of salaries.Many states of the Federation are facing similar challenges.  The government is however, working out strategies to resolve this problem and pleads with workers in the State for their understanding and cooperation.However, the governor wishes to make it abundantly clear that the increased tempo of political activities has no connection whatsoever with the delay in payment of salaries.  The Governor has since assumption of office in 2007 continously accorded priority to the welfare of workers and would never do anything that would deliberately inflict pains on the workers.Although Governor Suswam has indicated his intention to contest for the senate in Benue North-East Senatorial district, he has kept his consultations within the limits of the law and decency and has never mixed his political ambition with governance neither has he allowed his political activities to affect the running of government.  


SALE OF BENUE STATE’S SHARES IN DANGOTE CEMENT PLC;It is the height of mischief for Senator Gemade to politicize a technical matter such as sale of Government shares in his desperate bid to undermine the integrity of the Suswam administration.The State government wishes to state unequivocally that the State shares in Dangote Cement PLC and indeed in other companies are held in custody by the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), a wholly government company which has the statutory responsibility to buy and sell shares in Corporate entities on behalf of the State government.  BIPC has its reporting guidelines on such transaction to the Board of Directors and will make appropriate statements on the subject matter.

APPOINTMENT OF BENUE INDIGENES IN THE FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE.Senator Gemade in the Radio programme succeeded in exposing his serial failures as Senator when he tried unsuccessfully to justify the non-placement of his constituents in the Federal Civil Service.  The fact that the people of the Senatorial zone are crying of marginalization in recruitment into the Federal civil service is an indictment on the Senator and must be held accountable for failure to represent the interest of his people.The Senator must note that the day of reckoning is already here and must be ready to face the electorate and explain his many failures including the marginalization of his constituents in job opportunities in the federal civil service, the military and para-military services.  In conclusion, the governor wishes to assure the good people of the state that he remains focused and committed to providing quality leadership to the state irrespective of distractions from enemies of progress masquerading as political foes and will stop at nothing to deliver on his mandate freely given to him by the good people of the state.