No deal with Suswam on 2019 – Gemade

The Senator representing Benue North East, Barnabas Gemade yesterday denied reports that he is stepping down from the 2019 Benue North-East senatorial race to allow his son contest the governorship of the state in 2023.
The social media and some dailies were awash that Gemade had struck a deal with the PDP and former governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam, to vacate the Senate seat for his son to be given governorship position in 2023.
The reports also had it that Suswam who has been eyeing the senatorial seat currently occupied by Gemade will be allowed to replace the former PDP national chairman.
But Gemade in an interview with newsmen yesterday in Makurdi said his son has neither intention to join politics now nor was they any agreement he (Gemade) had agreed into with anybody to step down from the race.
He said he was not surprised about the media hype indicating that he would step down from the senatorial race.
“I am not surprised about all these postings in social media about my stepping down or even in the print media, and even sponsored articles about my stepping down.
If you remember in 2015, starting from 2014, there were several publications, some of which even gave results of mock primaries, putting me 2 per cent and my opponent at 98 per cent of the votes.
“So many things have been posted before but they mean nothing because those postings don’t materialise into any realities.
“I don’t have any Senate seat to give to anybody.
The one I have belongs to the people.
When the people want then they will ask me to hand over to someone but for now, I have not stepped down and I am not stepping down for anyone,” he added.
On the reported move to impeach Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Gemade said the National Assembly and its member were not elected by their various constituencies to defend a failed government.
He said even if the greatest intimidation was brought to bear on the National Assembly, the members would do only those things that would promote the unity of Nigeria and the welfare of the people that elected them.
Gemade pointed out that what Nigerians desired from leaders was a free country where there would be liberty, and where their security would be guaranteed and fairness and justice prevail.
According to Gemade, India as the country with highest poor people has now been overtaken by Nigeria.
“India has only 78 million people that are very poor and that is out of a population of 950 million.
We have only 160 million population and we have 87 million very poor people,” he added.
On moves to impeach Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Gemade said it would not be achievable, because “the process remains a constitutional matter and it will be very difficult for the progressives senators to get the two-third majority to impeach the Senate President.
“That process ought not to be a fight; it is a constitutional process which must be followed.
They have no chance whatsoever and that is why they have started using illegal means by barricading state assemblies and the National Assemblies.
But all of those have failed and those who were involved have been sacked from office,” he said.