It was a show of shame for Terhemen Tarzoor, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State and his running mate, John Ngbede in Gboko, Benue State recently as residents of the area vented their anger on Suswam for telling them to vote for his candidate, Tarzoor.
Gboko is the powerhouse of the Tiv nation and the flag off of the PDP campaign rally in the area was to immortalize the legendary late Joseph Sarwuan Tarka, who fought for the emancipation of the people.
The people of Benue have constantly accused Suswam’s government of subjecting them to untold hardship especially in the last four years.
It was observed that tertiary institutions such as the polytechnic and the College of Education in the state have been on strike over unpaid salaries.
Similarly, primaries schoolteachers just returned from strike after almost a year over issues bothering on salaries, just as civil servants in the state were also forced to celebrate the last Christmas without salaries.
However, the governor could not provide any reasonable answer on why workers’ salaries are on hold.
These and many more made the people to vent their anger on Suswam and his political allies who came to campaign for Tarzoor’s election in the community.
Our correspondent gathered that the event took a dramatic turn after Suswam mounted the podium to address the people on the need to allow Tarzoor take over the mantle of leadership from him next month.
The governor, in his speech, claimed he has done a lot for the state and they should vote for PDP to continue from where he would stop.
Apparently irked by his speech, the scanty crowd began to boo the governor, chanting, ‘Isho chenge’ which means we need change in Tiv language. Others were seen saying, ‘no to ‘Razor’, referring to Tarzoor. Some equally were seen chanting ‘Tarzoo’ Tarzoo’ meaning go back to the zoo.
It took the intervention of security agents on ground to calm the irate crowd who out rightly rejected Suswam and his candidate.
A resident of the area told DAILY POST that the people of the State have vowed never to vote Suswam or his candidate who was impeached as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
“Imagine the governor telling us that we should vote for Tarzoor that he would build on the foundation he had laid, and one would ask: which foundation? The people of Benue are not ready to be fooled again.
This is a case of once beaten twice shy, Suswam had beaten us twice and we are not ready to be fooled the third time,” he said.
DAILY POST observed that Suswam would also be locking horns with the incumbent, Barnabas Gemade over who represents the Benue Zone A senatorial district at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly.
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