..ex governor did no wrong – Aide

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

A coalition of Ukum sons and daughters under the aegis of Ukum Young Elites, UYE, has demanded unreserved apology from former Governor Gabriel Suswam over an alleged unpleasant comment he made against the people of the area.

The group in a statement issued Tuesday in Makurdi, signed by Abraham Waroh and eight others from different districts in Ukum Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state claimed that the former Governor in a recently viral video made the uncomplimentary remarks while addressing a section of the people of Ukum.

The coalition alleged that Senator Suswam used uncharitable words to describe the people of Ukum in the said meeting including referring to them as “fools” following their reaction when Governor Hyacinth Alia visited the area after armed herdsmen invaded communities in the LGA.

The coalition in the statement insisted that members “viewed Senator Suswam’s descriptions and utterances as mockery, demeaning, and the highest level of insult to the Ukum people, whose ancestral lands have been taken over by armed herdsmen and bandits who have continuously raped, maimed, and killed our relatives. And have not yet recovered from grieving our losses.

“It is therefore disheartening that Senator Suswam, who is the highest beneficiary of Ukum’s benevolence, in turn, calls us fools and embarks on a mission to mock and dance on the graves of our relatives murdered in cold blood, failures attributable to the government’s inability to fulfill its primary responsibility of protecting life and property of the people, a duty the governor swore an oath to uphold.”

While recalling the pivotal role the people of Ukum played to enable the former Governor actualize all his political ambition since 1999, the UYE said “It is equally worrisome that Senator Suswam, who is ostensibly the highest stakeholder in Sankera by virtue of his privileged positions, has never condemned the herdsmen killings in Sankera, nor sympathized with the people’s suffering, nor visited the scenes of attacks to assess the level of destruction.

“Instead, he was quick to rush to Sankera to insult the people for staging a peaceful protest against Governor Alia during his visit to the area.

“While we demand an immediate, unreserved apology from Senator Suswam, we state that Ukum people are not fools.

“Our benevolence and generosity towards Senator Suswam over the years stem from his maternal relationship with the Ukum people, and Ukum’s hospitality should not be misconstrued as foolishness.

“Since Suswam appears indifferent to our plight and feelings, it is not his place to dictate how we grieve our losses. However, we implore him not to use our misfortunes for political relevance.”

Reacting, Media Aide to Senator, Mr. Bartholomew Bede urged the public to discountenace the allegation saying Senator Suswam never called the people of Ukum fools.

He said “Senator Suswam’s mother is from Ukum so he wouldn’t have said what they are alleging. He only admonished them and advised that they should not behave like fools.

“He wondered why a Governor would come to visit your place to sympathise with you over the killings in the area and you throw stones at him. So he only admonished Ukum people to remain supportive of the Governor as he takes concrete steps to tackle insecurity in Sankera and the entire state.”