Olusegun Ariyo
A Benue group, Ukum Young Elites, UYE, has chided former Benue Governor, Gabriel Suswam, over uncharitable remarks against the people of Ukum Local Government Area and demanded an unreserved apology from him.
The group said it was not fair for the former Governor to use derogatory statements against the people of Ukum.
They said while addressing a section of Ukum people in a viral video, that Suswam used uncharitable words to describe the people, including referring to them as ” fools”.
In a statement on Tuesday, signed by Abraham Waroh and eight others, they described Suswam’s utterances as mockery, demeaning, and the highest level of insult to the traumatised Ukum people, whose ancestral lands are under siege by killer herdsmen.
“It is disheartening that 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, a duty the governor swore an oath to uphold.
“Before Suswam, who is our maternal relative, forgets, let us remind him that in 1999, while he lost delegate votes in Katsina-Ala and Logo in his bid to secure a House of Representatives ticket in PDP primaries, Ukum gave him block delegate votes that earned him the ticket.
” In the 2003 general election, Suswam also lost Katsina-Ala and Logo to the late Mahmud Iyornder Akiga, who was announced as the winner of the 2023 House of Representatives election for Sankera federal constituency on Radio Nigeria Kaduna.
“However, Ukum came to the rescue with some ‘magic votes’ to ensure his victory. Also, in 2015, when Suswam lost his senatorial bid as an outgoing governor, he won Ukum. Perhaps, Suswam now sees us as fools because we have always stood for him, even when Ukum sons are involved in most contests. We have learned our lessons, nonetheless.”
The group expressed sadness that Suswam, who is the highest stakeholder of the area, has never condemned the Fulani massacres in the area but only rushed down to insult the people over their peaceful protest against Governor Hyacith Alia during his visit to the area.
“Now, it appears Suswam wasn’t in Ukum to condole the people over the loss of their relatives to Fulani herdsmen. Instead, he was in the area to register his anger against Ukum for protesting against his friend.”
The group reiterated it’s demand for an immediate, unreserved apology from Sen. Suswam saying Ukum people are not fools, as insinuated by the former Governor.
“Our benevolence and generosity towards 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.
“We cannot prevent Senator Suswam from befriending any government in power, as that has become characteristic of him. ”
However, when contacted, Media Aide to Sen.Suswam, Mr Bartholomew Bede distanced his boss from the unfounded allegations.
He said Sen Suswam, as a responsible leader, can never use such derogatory words on his people.
“Sen Suswam only admonished Ukum people to remain supportive of the governor to tackle the insecurity in the area.”
