Former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam; his deputy, Chief Steven Lawani and their aides yesterday shunned the inauguration of the newly sworn-in governor, Samuel Ortom, of the APC and his deputy, Benson Abounu.
At the inauguration ceremony, Chief Ortom promised to provide the needed developmental projects that had eluded the people of the state, adding that he would see to the welfare of the people.
The inauguration ceremony held at the popular IBB Square, Makurdi, witnessed a mammoth crowd comprising elders and ardent supporters of true democracy who came from every nook and cranny of the state to witness the occasion.
Apart from Suswam’s chief of staff, Prof Saint Gbilekaa, notable elders of the opposition PDP were also conspicuously absent to the epoch-making event.
This is coming as food vendors and commercial motorists yesterday made a brisk business at the inauguration arena and at various areas in Makurdi, the state capital.
It was gathered that Suswam had unceremoniously driven out of the state on Thursday at about 10pm in a convoy of about eight vehicles. He had performed the handover ceremony before he left.
Sources at the Government House revealed that Suswam left the state for Abuja and thereafter boarded a flight to the United Kingdom. It was gathered that the former governor did not witness the inauguration due to official engagements.
