Staunch PDP woman leader advises Jonathan to steer clear of Benue politics

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

A staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue, Mrs. Felicia Tondo (aka Madam 7070) has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to steer clear of Benue North East senatorial district contest between Governor Gabriel Suswam and his rival Sen. Barnabas Gemade

Mrs. Tondo who gave this advice yesterday while speaking to journalists in Makurdi, Benue State capital, against the background of rumors that Jonathan has handed automatic ticket to former national PDP chairman, Sen. Barnabas Gemade, wondered why the President would condescend so low to involve himself in local politics

She urged the President to be concerned in providing a level playing field for free and fair election in 2015.

“Jonathan should stop meddling into our politics. He should concern himself in providing a level playing field for free and fair election. If the wish of the people favors Governor Suswam, the president could compensate his party’s former national chairman with a ministerial position”, she suggested.

The elderly female politician also expressed sympathy over the nonpayment of workers’ salaries in the state, however berated those using the issue to whip up political sentiments.

She noted that the economic downturn was not peculiar to the state as Edo State and National Assembly workers are also facing salary issues.

According to her, ‘while am not happy with nonpayment of workers’ salaries, I think the problem should be put at the corridor of the federal government with dwindling federal allocation to states, after all, I read in the papers that some states including Edo are owing their workers, also the National Assembly workers, so the problem is not peculiar to Benue”.

The Gboko based woman leader however called on the federal government to bail all the states from economic crunch facing them.