The Governor of Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom has denied breaking political ties with his Rivers State counterpart, Governor Nyesom Wike.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, shortly after presiding over the Benue North-West Senatorial district People’s Democratic Party (PDP) caucus meeting held at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, Ortom insisted that he is still with Wike on the injustices meted out to him.
“The Thisday news report is misleading. I just came back from London this morning with Wike and I still maintain my stand on what I said. I have not moved away from there. I still sympathize with Wike for the injustices meted out on him and our group,” Governor Ortom stated.
The Governor further stated that: “The party leadership has not been fair to Governor Wike based on the activities that took place during the convention and after the convention. They have not been able to adequately deploy the internal conflict resolution mechanism of the party to resolve those issues. I still sympathize and stand with Wike and let the leadership of the party at the national level do the right thing. It is not too late to do so”.
According to Governor Ortom “Politics is about interest, and where your interest is not protected, you have the right to protest” stressing that “We remain committed to the PDP but still want the right thing to be done, so that everybody will be carried along.”
While noting that it is not late to resolve the issues, Governor Ortom further pointed out that with the interface he had with the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, he hopes that issues will be properly addressed.
“The issue in contention about the National Chairman, the BOT was here some few days ago and we deliberated on the matter. They sought to know what my feeling was about the crisis and I told them the truth as far as I am concerned. I gave them my recommendations and I hope that justice will be done so that our party will gain its position to take over power in 2023,” he said.
Ortom maintained that despite the crisis rocking the party at the national level, Benue State does not have any problem, stressing that “from bottom to top, we are good to go, as far as our party is concerned. I am working for our candidates.”
The Governor insisted that he cannot work against PDP but he will support every candidate, emphasising, however, “that does not mean I am not aggrieved, Wike is aggrieved and I am aggrieved too.”
On the outcome of the caucus meeting, the Governor said after due consultations, a Benue North-West Senatorial campaign team for the Senate seat will be constituted, pointing out that it will be integrated into the main campaign council of PDP in Benue State.