The die has been cast with Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State declaring that he would not support the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as President of the country ahead of the 2023 elections.
This finally lays to rest speculations as to whether Governor Ortom would back the presidential bid of Atiku, a former Vice President during the 2023 elections or not.
The implication is that the other governors that make up the G-5 Governor Nyesome Wike Rivers state; Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia state; Seyi Makinde, Oyo state and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state may also not back Atiku for his presidential bid.
Governor Ortom made the revelation late Sunday night when he hosted the other four Governors to a dinner party at the banquet hall of Government House, Makurdi.
The counterparts of the Benue state governor were in the state to grace the flag-off of the PDP election campaigns for the 2023 general elections and the commissioning of projects executed by the Governor Ortom administration in Makurdi slated for Monday.
He explained that he would rather die than support Atiku whose kinsmen have been killing his people, adding that just last week, herdsmen had killed another 18 persons in the state for no just reason.
According to him, “To hell with Atiku and anyone supporting him. They should go and tell him. You want me to be slave for a Fulani. It’s better I die. Anybody supporting Atiku is an enemy of Benue.
“My people are being killed and you want me to be quiet. My tenure ends in May (2023) and you can do what ever you want if you think you have the powers.
“I have written my will. When I gave it to my wife, she cried all night. If I die at 62.. many of my mates have gone long time ago and if I die today, I’m a fulfilled person. But let it be recorded that I died resisting the invasion and killing of my people.
“I will never support a Fulani man to become president. If there is another person who is ready to work with me and ensure the security of my people, I will work with him”, he stressed.
While he commended Wike who is the title holder of the “Eagle of Tivland”, Ortom noted that when the state came under siege, Wike was the first person who roared and warned that if you kill Ortom, you have killed the whole Nigeria.
Ortom observed that “He (Wike) did not keep quiet when Benue was under siege. He visited with stakeholders from Rivers state and committed N250 million and subsequently he has committed over N700 million to Benue IDPs.
He condemned Benue’s sons, particularly those at the National Assembly who have been keeping mute over the killings in the state, threatening that “From tomorrow (Monday) I’m turning my venom on the National Assembly members from the state who are romancing with Buhari to kill the Benue people.”
He was convinced that as PDP launches its campaign, it was his firm belief that the party would win the 2023 elections, insisting that “Benue is PDP and PDP is Benue state.”
He warned those planning to come and rig elections to Benue to shelve such ideas, adding that it would not be condoned.
Governor of Rivers State, Nyesome Wike who spoke on behalf of his counterparts, said the G-5 were out to help Nigeria from imminent collapse.
He said, “The G-5 governors are the integrity governors and anyone can challenge us. We have come to give Governor Samuel Ortom solidarity support for the flag off of campaigns in Benue and to tell Benue people that we are with Governor Ortom; like or hate us we are with Ortom. You cannot break us. We are bonded together.
“Leadership is risk taking. Whether you like him (Ortom) or not, Ortom has shown leadership”, he argued.
Wike reiterated his call on Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman of the PDP to respect the agreement that he would resign if the presidential candidate of the party eventually emerges from the north.
He further advised Nigerians to be wary of politicians who do not respect agreements now that they were yet to get to office, stressing that they would not keep agreements or promises, when they eventually get into office.
(Courtesy: Daily Independent, excluding headline)
