Former Benue State Governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam, has revealed that throughout his eight-year rule as governor, the payment of salaries to workers and pensioners was indeed a problem for him due to the lack of money to execute projects.

The former governor spoke during his maiden visit to the state secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he met with party stakeholders, elders and various other groups since he defected from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Suswam praised Governor Hyacinth Alia for what he described as remarkable developmental strides, particularly in addressing salary arrears and inherited debts in the state.

This is even as he stressed that Alia’s administration deserves encouragement to continue beyond the next election cycle.

He stated that he joined the APC not to undermine anybody in the state or struggle for anything, but he did so “believing that it is in the best interest of the Benue people, Nigerians and APC as a party”.

“We didn’t join this party to undermine anybody, we didn’t join this party to struggle for anything, but we joined this party believing that it is in the best interest of the Benue people, Nigerians and APC as a party.

“And so it is important for people of the state to support the governor to succeed, considering the numerous projects he has lined up to complete and commission.

“When I was in government, payment of pensions and salaries was a problem. The truth of the matter is, there was no money to do a lot of things.”

Earlier, the state APC Chairman, Benjamin Omale, expressed gratitude for the support shown by the former governor and his supporters to the present administration, urging others to emulate the same gesture.