2023: Gov. Ortom tells Benue youth to ‘rise up and support Peter Obi’
Member of the Integrity Group of five state governors under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has again endorsed the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 Presidential election, Dr Peter Obi.
This is also as the State governor, Thursday, obtained a court injunction barring the PDP from stopping him from contesting the Benue West senatorial poll, come February 25.
A viral video trending on social media, Thursday, captured the Benue Governor rallying Benue youth population to vote for Peter Obi of the Labour Party, as against his own party’s standard bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Governor Ortom during a meeting with youth in the state is seen and overheard in the trending video urging the Benue youth to ‘Rise up and support Peter Obi.’
The youth responded to Governor Ortom’s charge by chanting; ‘Obi’, ‘Obi,’ ‘Obi’ in unison during the meeting.
Ortom, a member of the G-5 group of dissenting PDP governors have been in a long-drawn battle with the PDP leadership over its decision to retain a Northern Party Chairman, even as the party’s presidential candidate hails from the same North.
Members of the G-5 governors of the PDP include Governors Ortom, Nyesom Wike, Seyi Makinde, Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Benue, Rivers, Oyo, Abia and Enugu states, respectively, who have all resolved to withhold their support for Atiku.
Reacting to the video, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Nathaniel Ikyur confirmed the development, adding that his principal supports Obi’s presidential ambition.
“Yes, he (Governor Ortom) did,” Ikyur said.
Ikyur further confirmed that the endorsement of the Labour Party’s flag bearer by the governor took place on Thursday, February 16.
“It took place today. Royal Choice Hotels, Makurdi. It was a meeting of the Obidients Movement ahead of February 25, 2023.”
It would be recalled that Ortom has already secured a court injunction barring the PDP from expelling him for anti-party activities.
Ortom, who is also contesting Benue North West senatorial seat in the forthcoming 2023 general election under the platform of the PDP obtained an order, Thursday, from the Benue State High Court which restrained the party or its official from stopping the governor from contesting in the poll.
It would be recalled that in July, last year, Ortom also publicly endorsed Obi, saying Nigerians were in dire need of people with ‘commitment and competence’ that would fix the leadership crisis that has plunged the country into outright chaos.
Receiving the Labour Party’s candidate, Obi at his private residence in Abuja, the Benue Governor, Ortom, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also urged other presidential aspirants to put Nigeria’s interest above personal ambitions.
Ortom and Obi had chieftains had met for about an hour behind closed doors in Abuja.
Ortom further described Obi as ‘one among those qualified Nigerians that the people were looking forward to having him to take the country out of the leadership conundrum.’
He commended the decision of the former Anambra Governor to engage Nigerians, especially major players in the country’s politics, irrespective of political leaning on his desire to serve as the country’s next President.
He said even though he was a major stakeholder of the main opposition PDP, the LP candidate considered him as a Nigerian to consult on his aspiration.
Speaking to newsmen, on his visit to the Benue State Governor, the LP presidential candidate said it was to show respect to his former political ally in the PDP, noting that although they were now in different political parties, ‘their friendship as citizens of the country was most important.’
According to Obi, ‘it was time for all hands to be on deck to correct the wrongs for a better Nigeria.’
The two party chieftains had met for about an hour behind closed doors after which they jointly addressed journalists on the purpose of their meeting.