Suswam, Terzoor, Akume hail Benue governorship poll

Gov says Ortom’s victory an act of God

GOVERNOR Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has described the election of Dr. Samuel Ortom of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as an act of God even as he said it is a clear reflection of the wishes of the people.

“To me what is constant in life is change. Yesterday I was the Governor, today is the time for Dr. Ortom.” Suswam, who made the indication while speaking to journalists yesterday at Government House, Makurdi, further congratulated the governor elect and enjoined PDP supporters to extend their full support to him as well as to be law abiding by maintaining decorum at all times.

“I also want to advice the APC supporters who are already pulling down bill boards and posters of the opponents to desist. They should again avoid hate speeches; we must put partisan politics behind us to move forward and take things with calm,” he advised.

The governor, who called on Dr. Ortom to be magnanimous in in office, also congratulated the candidate of the PDP, Prince Terhemen Tarzoor for a gallant fight at the election.

Suswam further called on God to give Dr. Ortom the strength and wisdom to steer the affairs of the state The vanquished Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate in the state, Prince Terhemen Tarzoor on behalf of his campaign organization congratulated Dr. Ortom for his victory and enjoined all Benue citizens to work for the success of Dr. Ortom rather than pull him down as has been the culture of the people of the state in the past.

Tarzoor pledged to remain committed and dedicated to make Benue State greater by healing the wounds that partisanship, intolerance, arrogance and entitlement have caused; even as he expressed grief that politics in Tivland / Benue at large created too many divisions, inflicted too many wounds and impoverished too many people.

The PDP governorship candidate who said even as he has some reservations concerning the conduct of the election in the state by the INEC Commissioner, Prof. Istifanus Dafwang; in the spirit of greater Benue, he prefer to move forward and forget the Professor’s indiscretion.

Tarzoor further thanks his supporters and the PDP family for standing by him; saying he does not take his defeat at the polls as rejection by the Benue People, but rather as the new wind of change that is blowing through the nation.

Also congratulating the Governor elect, Dr. Ortom, the Senate Minority leader and APC leader in Benue State, Senator George Akume commended the people for their wonderful show of solidarity; noting that Dr. Ortom will never disappoint them. Akume, who expressed grief that the people of the state have passed through tribulations in the past eight years; said it is time for change and it has come to bring the desire development for the people of the state.