Is Suswam Born Again?

It was barely a month ago as rumour of Senator Gabriel Suswam defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC peaked that the former governor of Benue State came out to sharply denounce the claim.

The speculation at that time was founded on claims that the governor needed to defect in order to get a safe landing for the trial he is facing in the courts.

Suswam who was a foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP it was claimed was engaged in secret talks with his former political ally, Senator George Akume who he succeeded as governor and subsequently fought in a bruising control for political territory in Benue.

He, however, denied it in a statement issued last month through his personal assistant, denying it flatly.

“We state categorically that Senator Gabriel Suswam has no intention of leaving the PDP, where he has firm support at the national, state and across all local governments, wards and units of the party.

“Media houses and members of the public should be wary of stories like this, planted by detractors of the Senator and the Peoples Democratic Party. These persons are threatened by the wide acceptance and support which the Senator enjoys from his people and colleagues at the National Assembly.”

However, fresh fire to the speculation gained currency this week when it seemed Suswam came to kowtow to Akume when the latter visited the Senate to defend the budget proposals for the Ministry of Special Duties.

The picture of the two men and Suswam apparently appreciating Akume may have ignited the speculations. The warmth with which he greeted his predecessor as governor was one that even drew comments from some fellow senators including Senator Ali Ndume, a member of the Senate Committee on Special Duties who teased his colleague asking, “Senator Suswam, you are now born again ba”?

Remarkably, Suswam was against the emergence of Samuel Ortom as the present governor of the state in 2015. Ortom was backed by Akume the recognized leader of the APC in Benue.

However, in 2019 political allegiances had changed as Ortom after furtive negotiations with PDP leaders including Suswam defected to the PDP and joined Suswam to fight off Akume.

Undoubtedly, focus will continue to trail every step of Suswam given the warmth in his relationship with Senator Akume.

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