Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State, has declared that he will not give in to threats or extortion simply because he wants to run for Senate.
Furthermore, he emphasised that he would never compromise state interests in order to advance his political career.
Governor Ortom made a statement at a larger meeting of the Jemgbagh People Democratic Party Elders’ Forum, which included representatives from the Gboko, Tarka, and Buruku Local Government Areas, held on Sunday, October 9, 2022 at the Gboko home of Hon. Mike Mku.
The Jemgbagh PDP Elders Forum called the meeting after Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike called for the resignation of the national chairman, and they wanted more information on the ongoing conflict between the Governor and Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP’s national chairman.
Insinuations that the governor is toppling a Jemgbagh son were refuted by the governor as he provided facts of what events led to the current issues.
Instead, Ortom described how he overcame all opposition to mobilise support for Senator Ayu’s victory.
He emphasised that he will never give in to threats and remain mute in the face of wrongdoing committed by the PDP under Senator Ayu’s direction.
Also Read: PDP Crisis: Step Down Or Beg For Understanding – Ortom Tells Ayu
The Governor in a lucid narrative, took time to explain his role in the emergence of the PDP National Chairman, Senator Ayu and his position on the travails the Chairman is facing over calls for his resignation.
Governor Ortom maintained that power is given by God and “No one should blackmail me because of my senatorial ambition. Nobody should think he will intimidate me because of the senate election.”
According to the Governor, “If God ordains me to be elected Senator for the Benue North-West Senatorial zone, no amount of blackmail or intimidation could prevent me from winning.”
The Governor told the Jemgbagh PDP Elders that Senator Ayu who is also from the Jemgbagh political bloc has mounted a smear campaign and blackmail against his person and office when he met members of the Board of Trustees of the PDP.
Governor Ortom noted that since he is contesting for the Benue North-West Senatorial district seat, he has become a subject of intimidation and blackmail by some Jemgbagh stakeholders as a result of the internal crisis rocking the party with Ayu as the helmsman.
He said following the post-PDP Presidential convention with emerging internal wranglings, he advised Senator Ayu to reach out to aggrieved leaders of the party and plead for their understanding over calls for his resignation.
Rather than take his counsel, Governor Ortom lamented that Senator Ayu chose to take the ignoble path of disuniting the party by his actions and utterances.
The Governor insisted that the National Chairman did not maintain neutrality in handling the affairs leading to the PDP national convention, which produced Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the party.
He stressed that “Ayu himself committed to resigning should a northern presidential candidate emerge at the northern caucus at the Bauchi State lodge.”
The Governor wondered why Senator Ayu is now reneging on his promise, which he voluntarily made before all the northern leaders of the party.
He explained that contrary to speculations that he is working at cross purposes with Ayu, he had actively rallied support from his PDP Governor’s colleagues and other critical stakeholders for the emergence of the national chairman with the interest of the state, especially to place Benue in national politics.
The Governor told the Jemgbagh stakeholders to also invite Senator Ayu and himself to a meeting so that they could both present their positions on the matter.
He insisted that despite the betrayals, intimidation and blackmail, he would continue to stand for justice for his people.
