Benue State Governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, has given reasons why he recently announced that there is no vacancy in the Benue South Senatorial seat presently occupied by the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, saying: “Our decision to return him to the Senate in 2015 is irrevocable.”
Addressing a crowded audience of Nigerians majority of whom were Benue indigenes at a presentation of a book titled “Suswam, Politics and governance in Benue State in Abuja, he said: “Mark’s Senatorial seat is not contestable. Mark remains our choice. There is no vacancy.
“We in Benue State have endorsed the candidature of Mark to return to the Senate. The position of Senator Mark is not contestable. We want him back and there is no question or argument about it.”
The governor noted that as the state is united behind President Goodluck Jonathan for 2015, so also “we are solidly behind Mark for the 2015 senatorial seat,” warning those who may have interest in the seat to think otherwise because there is no vacancy.”
“The Senate President has performed creditably and it is only logical that we give him the needed support and encouragement to continue the good works in the upper legislative Chamber,” the governor said.
In his remarks at the occasion, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who spoke through Vice President Namadi Sambo, praised Suswam’s giant strides in the state, which he said, transformed the state from once rural setting to entrepreneurial environment.
Jonathan noted that Benue State remains the agricultural hub of Nigeria and one of the most peaceful states in the country making progress.
Also speaking, Senate President Mark said that beyond infrastructural development of the state under Suswam, one of his greatest achievements is the peace and unity between and among the various ethnic groups in the state.
He noted that the governor is a man of honour who stands for the truth, justice and fairness as captured in the book
