Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state said he would have been the one leading the campaign of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, if he (Ortom) was not a member of the PDP.
Ortom while speaking at a forum, said he preferred Obi, despite being a PDP member.
The Benue governor noted that Obi, like most human beings, is not perfect though, he possessed qualities of the kind of leader Nigeria needs at this point in her history.
He also said the Dr Iyorchia Ayu-led national leadership of his party should have no one to blame but itself if reconciliation with the G-5 governors failed.
Ortom, in an interview on Friday, January 20, 2023, explained that although Obi, like most human beings, is not perfect, he possesses the qualities of the kind of leader Nigeria needs at this point in her history.
He particularly praised President Olusegun Obasanjo for endorsing Peter Obi for the onerous task of providing leadership for Nigeria at this time.
Ortom said, “So, here is someone that is looking ahead and wants the best for our country, Nigeria. Today, he has recommended Peter Obi.
“Honestly, if I were not in PDP, I would have been the one at the forefront of carrying Peter Obi’s bag and campaigning for him because he is the best material so far.
“He is what this country needs to get things right. Somebody with clean records. That is not to be questioned, though nobody is perfect. Nobody is God, no human being is God. But here is somebody who has distinguished himself.
“So, if I were to offer advice on the best material for president, I would tell you that it is Peter Obi. But it is Obasanjo, a great patriot.
“He made some mistakes, especially on the issue of the third term that came, otherwise, nobody should contest the integrity and patriotism, forthrightness, and also the zeal to see a greater Nigeria more than President Obasanjo.”
Governor Ortom Debunks Reports That He Has Endorsed PDP Presidential Candidate
Governor Samuel Ortom says he won’t impose his preferred presidential candidate on members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State.
The governor also said contrary to a viral report, he has not endorsed his party’s flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar.
Ortom, in a statement on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, by his media aide, Terver Akase, said the report was targeted at embarrassing the five governors of the PDP known as the G5 “who have chosen the path of justice, fairness and equity”.
“When the Governor met with the expanded state caucus of PDP yesterday January 9, 2023, at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, his message to them was crystal clear that the national leadership of PDP has failed to utilize its internal conflict resolution mechanism which has led to the crisis rocking the party,” the statement read.
“The Governor said during the meeting that if the crisis is not resolved before the elections, he would be left with no other option than to take a stand on the matter.
“He (Ortom) added however that he wouldn’t impose his decision on members of the party in the state.”
For months, the G5 has been at loggerheads with Atiku and Iyorchia Ayu over the chairmanship of the latter. The five dissatisfied governors want Ayu to step down for a southerner as a precondition to support Atiku’s decade-long ambition in the February 25 presidential election. But Ayu has insisted that he would only resign after his four-year constitutional term.
Source: Vanguard
