A one-time Governor of Benue State and a contender to the national chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Gabriel Suswam has said he harbours no do-or-die affairs for the forthcoming party election.
Senator Suswam stated this during the party’s expanded caucus meeting held at the secretariat located along Makurdi/Otukpo road on Monday.
He acknowledged several interests in every contest but argued that he is not taking the election of the party’s national chairman as a do-or-die affair.
Suswam said that his priority was not only in the chairmanship position of the party but to build a virile and strong party that could wrest power in future elections.
He said, “If it works (election ) in my favour, I will get it, but if it doesn’t, I will forget about it. We are building a party that is on its knees, we want it to stand on its toes”.
The immediate past governor of the state, however, sued for inclusivity ahead of the party’s ward and state congresses.
He said there’s so much pain in losing the election and charged party members to come together.
Ortom stated that the party had witnessed a lot of divisions since the last general elections and admonished party members to strive for the inclusivity of all members.
“We have seen the pain of losing and we do not want to lose again. We have put in place a conflict reconciliation mechanism to resolve all issues.
“We must be one and work together, we should not undermine anyone. I strongly believe that the rejected stone will become the chief cornerstone”, Ortom said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro also stressed unity in the party ahead of the congress adding that the opposition PDP should leverage the mistakes of APC and be ready to dislodge the party in the state.
“What we have in Benue is not governance but a one-man show; let there be no dichotomy in the party. We must make sure we return this state to PDP,” Moro said.
In his speech, the state party chairman, John Ngbede promised that the party will embark on aggressive sensitization of its members towards the forthcoming local government election in the State as well as ward/state congresses
Ngbede also hinted at plans to embark on the registration of new members in line with the constitution of the party.
He announced that the congresses will commence on June 29th, adding the sale of nomination forms will commence soon.
He highlighted the amount for every elective position including the chairmanship position of the party is N1m, the state deputy chairman and, state secretary attract N750,000 while all other positions are pegged at N500,000.
‘It is not going to be business as usual as there will be no compilation of names in individual homes. This will not be accepted and there will be no interference from leaders of the party,” Ngbede said.
