By Peter Duru

MAKURDI—Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state, has said that he would not impose a governorship candidate on the people of the state saying that members of ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would collectively decide who his successor would be in 2015.

He also assured that he would avail all the aspirants, from the three senatorial zones of the state, a level playing field to canvass support for their candidature irrespective of tribe.

Suswam spoke yesterday in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi, the state capital, pointing out that over 26 aspirants were jostling to succeed him.

His words, “as the Governor of Benue state, I honestly would ensure a level playing field for all the aspirants who are presently jostling to succeed me; I would therefore, not for any reason impose any candidate on the people.

“The race is open to Tiv and Idoma candidates, but the decision on who picks the ticket of the PDP lies with the party members because they would have the final say on who eventually emerges.

“There are rumours making the rounds that I have anointed some candidates, but the truth is that some persons may be engaged in name dropping in order to convince the people, its all part of politics.

“Ordinarily, I would have preferred to give it to my deputy because he has been with me since the inception of the administration and should be in a better position to understand the workings of government, but my hands are tied because whatever we arrive at has to be the collective decision of the party.”

Suswam, then cautioned politicians against the use of inflammatory words in the course of their campaigns, pleading that the contest should not be a do or die affair.

Meanwhile, Gov. Suswam has said the state government had not sold its shares in Dangote cement.

Suswam, who refuted claims that the shares were valued at N20 billion at the stock market, said the state government owned only N43 million shares with the company.

According to him, the shares were warehoused with the Benue Investment, Property Company, BIPC, and blamed his detractors for peddling such falsehood on