By Adesina Soyooye
Given a choice, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, says he would work for Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP.
And, even though he is of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ortom was not categorical that he would work for the Presidential candidate of his Party, Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking after Obi paid him a visit at his private house in Abuja to commiserate with him and the people of Benue, over the havoc done to the people of the State by the devastating flood which has ravaged a number of States, Ortom said:
“The front runners of this 2023 Presidential election – the three of them from PDP, my Party, the APC and Labour Party, let us look at these three people. Who has the capacity to deliver and make things work for our country?
“Let us be factual, let us be frank with ourselves because we are toying with our future. A country of over 200 million people deserves a better leadership that is proactive, that has foresight, that has vision to make things work for our country.
“I am in PDP, and I am working for the PDP, and I tell you, if I were not in PDP, you will see me working for Peter Obi. But I’m in PDP, let’s see how things work out.”
Even though the PDP National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, is from Benue State, Ortom is one of the four Governors, led by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, demanding for Ayu’s resignation as the National Chairman, and so, refused to participate in anything PDP, including, working for Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, until Ayu steps down in favour of a Southern Chairman.
Last week, Ortom had, while speaking in Makurdi, asked Ayu to keep to the promise he made to the effect that he would step down if the Presidential candidate emerge from the North.
The Wike group say it is fighting for justice and equity, and against the Northernisation of the PDP.
Aside from openly diminishing Atiku’s chances, Wike has, publicly, been running down Ayu. He has labeled him corrupt, and a man without honor, credibility or character.
