2023: Ignoring Wike, Us Is Dangerous – Ortom Tells Atiku, PDP

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State wants the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and chieftains of the party to placate Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

Ortom Warns Atiku, PDP

Ortom warned the PDP, Atiku and the party’s chieftains to resolve the crisis rocking the party ahead of the campaign season.

The governor lamented that that the party leadership has failed to deploy its internal mechanism to resolve the crisis rocking the party.

According to him, ignoring Wike and his allies posed a great danger for the party.

The governor made this known during the party stakeholders meeting held at the new banquet hall of the Government House, Makurdi, on Monday, September 19.

He insisted that the national leadership of the party should address the injustices meted out to Wike and other members of the party.

Furthermore, he cautioned the leadership of party, saying that attempting to ignore Wike or any of his allies may spell doom for the party.

He said, “If you dismiss us that you don’t need us, I believe that will be dangerous. I want the party to address the injustices so that as we move into the election, we will work together and we will have no crisis.”

He added, “There is an injustice that has been meted to my friend, Wike because he stood for the party and supported it to the end.

“The leadership of the party should do the needful to resolve the problem and not shove people around as though they are not relevant. Everyone is relevant and one vote can make you fail in an election.

“So, the leadership at the national level should do more; politics is about interest and what is the interest of our state and our people? What do I tell my people in Benue?

 “The leadership of the party was not able to deploy its internal conflict resolution management skills in solving the problems that arose and then, it has continued. To me, it is better for us to work together and deliver this party.’’

Ortom also disclosed that the stakeholders’ meeting was to discuss the formation of the campaign council in the state.

The governor said the APC had been de-marketed in the state, adding that the PDP is poised to win all elective positions in the forthcoming elections.

The relationship between Wike and Atiku became sore after the conduct of the party’s presidential primary, in which the former vice president won and the subsequent appointment of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate despite the party’s recommendation of Wike.

Since then, the Rivers governor has not shown active participation or support for the PDP presidential candidate, leading to his call for the resignation of the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu.

Wike argued that the presidential candidate and the party national chairman can not come from the same zone – North.

Atiku hails from Adamawa (North-East) while Ayu comes from Benue (North-Central).

Other party leaders have since then added their voices to the call for Ayu’s resignation.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Former deputy national chairman of the party, Bode George all called for the stepping down of Ayu, so a southerner can occupy the position in order to give the zone a sense of belonging in the party.

However, Kanyi Daily had reported that in his reaction to the calls for Ayu’s resignation, Atiku said the only way the national chairman can be removed is through the amendment of the party’s constitution.

The main opposition party has since constituted its presidential campaign council with Wike and Ortom as members of the 326-member team.