Tag: Samuel Ortom

2023: G-5 governor, Ortom reveals who Nigerians should vote for

One of the G5 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Samuel Ortom of Benue State has charged the people of the country to vote wisely during the forthcoming general elections in the country.

He urged the people to identify party candidates who have the prospects of helping the country before casting their votes in the coming elections.

The Benue-born politician made this comment during the signing of the N179.5 billion 2023 appropriation bill into law at the Government House, Makurdi on Thursday.

Ortom said the election should not be based on political parties but on the ability of the candidates to perform if elected.

“Though 2023 is pregnant and loaded, we hope that God will see us through all the challenges we are facing.

“A lot of us are expecting a turnaround, rebranding and refocusing. We as humans have tried but we hope that God himself will rescue us and give us peace, hope and all that will make the coming year enjoyable.

“Come 2023, let us work hard and vote according to the election and not according to the party.

“We must know those people who have prospects to help us and the country. Let us be truthful when we sit to consider this and may God direct us”.

Recall that Ortom, Rivers State Governor, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state and Okezie Victor Ikpeazu of Abia are all members of the G5 who are against the candidacy of Alhaji Atiku, Abubakar.

December 22, 2022
2023: Tambuwal set to broker peace meeting between Atiku, Ortom in Benue

The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is already making another plan to jet out to Benue state for a meeting with one of the G5 governors, Samuel Ortom all in a bid to settle their differences.

Recall that G5 governors are against the candidacy of Atiku, citing intra -party zoning arrangement.

The decision to fix the meeting for Benue was arrived at when Chairman of the G-5 governors, and his Sokoto State counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal met recently.

Tambuwal raised the idea of a meeting between Ortom and Atiku as a means to settle their differences that has ranged for too long.

However, Ortom advised Tambuwal, who is both the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, to reach out to the other governors in the Integrity Group.

Findings showed that even though Ortom appreciated the visit to him, he informed his guest that he alone cannot take a decision for the G-5. Despite being the chairman of the group, Wike is the leader of the Integrity Group with other members being Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Uguanyi (Enugu).

“Tambuwal came to seek reconciliation with Governor Ortom but Ortom told him that he cannot take any decision on his own, that he should meet with Wike and the other members of the G-5,” a source privy to the discussion confided in the Nigerian Tribune.

The source, who craved for anonymity because of lack of authority to discuss the matter, also confirmed that arrangements would be made to receive the PDP flag bearer and Tambuwal in Makurdi before Christmas in continuation of the effort to achieve peace in the main opposition party.

December 13, 2022
Ortom, Wike shuns Atiku at Makurdi Airport

Governor Samuel Ortom and Nyesom Wike have shunned the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, at the Makurdi Airport in Benue State, hinting the fact that the crisis between Atiku and the five aggrieved PDP governors may be far from over.

According to reports, Abubakar whose presidential campaign is billed to hold in Nasarawa State on Monday decided to fly to Benue because he could not secure a landing clearance in Nasarawa.

About 20 minutes before his arrival, Governor Ortom arrived at the Airport and many thought he was there to receive the PDP presidential candidate.

However, about five minutes later, the PDP vice presidential candidate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, landed at the Airport, and he exchanged pleasantries with Governor Ortom.

The latter was heard asking “So, you people will come to my state without telling me?”

Moments later, a jet landed and Governor Ortom swiftly moved towards it to receive the person on aboard, it turned out to be Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

The governors hugged and exchanged pleasantries and without wasting time, the two men entered their vehicle and zoomed off.

Twenty minutes later, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar arrived at the Makurdi Airport alongside members of the Presidential Campaign Council and the PDP national chairman.

He was only received by Governor Okowa and other party members; the absence of Ortom and Wike is a strong indication that the rift remains far from over.

Nigerian Standard reports that the incident comes a day after Atiku Abubakar said he has met with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to resolve the lingering crisis within the party without any way forward.

Speaking on Sunday during the People’s Townhall, Atiku said “I have met Wike two times in Port Harcourt, two times in Abuja, one time in London, personally.”

“It is not on my part; it is on the other side; I am waiting for him,” he said, without revealing the kernel of his discussions with the Rivers governor.

Atiku was on the programme alongside his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Wike’s 2023 presidential ambition was terminated when he lost the PDP’s primary to Atiku in May. Atiku, a former Vice President later stung Wike when he passed over his closest rival at the primary and chose Okowa as his running mate.

The Rivers State governor has since been at loggerheads with PDP presidential candidate (Atiku) over the chairmanship of Iyorchia Ayu. Wike with four other PDP governors known as the G5 or the Integrity Group have insisted that Benue-born Ayu must step down for a southerner as a precondition to support the 2023 ambition of Atiku.

Last month, Wike promised logistics support for the campaigns of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi; and his New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

While Wike and his allies have not been seen to campaign for Atiku, it is not clear whether they will support Obi, Kwankwaso, or APC’s Bola Tinubu in the contest for Aso Rock’s top job.

December 13, 2022
Gov Wike and Gov Ortom urge President Buhari to expose govs stealing local government funds

The Governors of Rivers and Benue State, Nyesom Wike, and Samuel Ortom, have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to expose state governors who are stealing local government funds.

President Buhari in a speech delivered at the presidential parley for members of the Senior Executive Course 44 (2022) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) at the State House, on Thursday, December 1, accused state governors of stealing allocations meant for local governments.

Reacting to the comment, Governor Wike while speaking at the inauguration of the Mgbuosimini Internal Roads in Rivers state, denied ever taking funds meant for the local government since he assumed office as governor in 2015. He challenged the president to name governors that are doing that as his statement could be termed class defamation.

“I want to challenge Mr. President, Mr. President you are a leader and we believe as leaders you must come out and tell Nigerians, who are those committing this offense? You said the governors are taking local government funds, I want to say in the name of Almighty God I have never touched local government funds one day, I have never and I have no reason to do that.

So Mr. President who are those people? You know them, tell us. It is not good to say what you call class defamation, you say, governors, please I am not one of those governors, so Mr. President please spare me, tell Nigerians that the Integrity governors are not part of them, we have integrity, we are not part of them” Gov Wike said

In the same vein, his Benue state counterpart, Samuel Ortom, who was also at the road commissioning, denied touching funds meant for local government, saying that their funds go to them directly from the federation account.

“It is a logical fallacy to say that all governors are criminals; all governors are stealing from local government. I join governor Wike to say from 2015, let EFCC come, let ICPC come, let every other agency that can unearth this, as far as Benue State is concerned let them bring it out so that we know the people, there is no point generalizing that all of us are evil people.

“I don’t do it, I didn’t like it when the Federal Government enacted something and said local government should have financial autonomy, but from that day all monies are paid to the local government, and no single naira has been paid through anyone, all monies that come from the federation account go straight to the individual councils,” he said.

December 2, 2022
2023: You are free to support any candidate of your choice – Atiku replies Ortom

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has replied Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom.

The Waziri of Adamawa noted that it’s uncivil for Ortom to blame him for the armed Fulani attacks on the people of Benue State.

However, Atiku said that Benue state is his home.

Recall that Ortom had vowed never to support Atiku’s presidential ambition or any other Fulani man due to the incessant killings in Benue State.

Ortom said “hell with Atiku,” the governor said he couldn’t support a Fulani man due to herders’ attacks on residents of the state.

In his reaction. Atiku said the governor is entitled to support any candidate of his choice in 2023.

He spoke through the spokesperson of his presidential campaign team, Dino Melaye.

Dino Melaye made this known while featuring on Arise TV political Programme.

Appearing on Arise TV, Melaye said: “Ortom is entitled by right to support whichever candidate he wants; it’s not proper to place the blame of what is happening in Benue on Atiku; it is not fair. During the Shagari administration, he appointed four Benue indigenes as ministers, also the late Yar’Adua appointed a Benue indigene as AGF. These two presidents are Fulani by ethnicity, yet they appointed Benue citizens.”

“It’s uncivil to blame Fulani activities on Atiku, this is not right and not proper.”

He added “In February this year, Atiku donated N50 million to IDPs; he shows love to the people of the state. Benue is a second home to Atiku.”

November 8, 2022
Wike is a trusted, dependable ally, so I can’t abandon him – Ortom

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has said he cannot abandon Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers because he has proved to be a trusted and dependable ally.

Ortom disclosed this at a banquet in honour of governors Wike, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu and Seyi Makinde on Sunday in Makurdi.

He disclosed that when bandits (suspected to be Fulani herdsmen) attacked him, Wike was the first person to condemn it with emphasis that if they kill him they have killed Nigeria. He did not keep quiet. He spoke without any fear.

“When Benue was under siege, he donated N250 million and he subsequently spent over N700 million to support the state to tackle the humanitarian crisis occasioned by the unwarranted attacks.

“He did not stop at that. He convinced Gov. Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom to also assist the state and he donated N200 million to us,” Ortom said.

He also disclosed that when two markets in the state were burnt, Wike donated N200 million each.

“Is he not a worthy friend? He is a worthy friend and we are working together to liberate the country,” he stated.

He said that he would not support the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, stressing that any of Atiku’s supporter is his enemy.

“I am not going to support any Fulani man to continue to do injustice to my people unless my people tell me to do otherwise,” he said.

Responding on behalf of the visiting governors, Wike appreciated Ortom for the honour he had given to them.

The Rivers governor stated that nobody could separate them no matter the blackmail, emphasizing that they are bonded.

“People want to break us but they cannot, we are bonded therefore, we cannot be separated,” Wike said.

He further advised the leadership of the PDP at the centre to always respect agreements for peace to reign.

November 7, 2022
Ortom tells Atiku to apologise for lying against him

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to apologise for allegedly lying against him.

Ortom said this when he received a group, under the aegis of Jemgbagh Youths, on a protest at the Government House, Makurdi, over alleged lies against Ortom by Atiku.

He stated that Atiku should make a public apology for alleging that his brothers were stealing herdsmen’s cattle in the state.

“Immediately I heard the news, I sent him a message on WhatsApp and he apologised to me.

“I told him to make the apology public but he declined, and I am saying he cannot undress an elder like me in public and then come back to dress me in a room.

“He lied against me and I take exceptions to that because what he said is hate speech,” Ortom said.

The governor faulted Atiku’s claim that he issued a blanket condemnation of all Fulani people as bad, saying he never said that.

“Some Fulani people are my friends, I trust them to a point of even taking them to my bedroom and I have not sent any Fulani man away from Benue.

“It is only the foreign ones that came from Mali, Mauritania among others that are terrorising our people.

“Atiku, you have been very unfair to Benue people and Fulani people alone cannot make you the president,” he said.

Ortom said however, that in spite of the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he would work toward its victory at all levels in the state.

He stated that no matter what happened, a baby cannot be thrown away with the birth water.

“I am committed to the victory of the party at all levels in the state,” he said.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for condemning the attacks by suspected herdsmen in Gbeji, Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

Earlier, the Chairman of Gboko LGA, Mr Isaac Mtom, said the group visited the governor to identify with him over his developmental strides as well condemn Atiku’s outburst.

Mtom said Atiku’s statement clearly showed that he did not meant well for Benue people.

October 26, 2022
[Video] 2023: I would work for Peter Obi if…- Ortom

The Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom has stated that he would work for, Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi if he was not in PDP.

He made this known in an interview aired on Channels Television.

Ortom who recognised the Labour Party, All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the front runners of the 2023 election, said that a country of over two hundred million people deserves better leadership.

See video below:

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October 20, 2022
PDP crisis: Benue Gov, Ortom denies breaking ties with Gov Wike

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.

September 27, 2022
Ignore Wike at your peril, Ortom to PDP leadership

The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has told the leadership of the PDP to take seriously the counsel by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, or they can ignore them at their own peril.

Ortom stated this on Monday where he noted that the national leadership of the PDP had failed to use its internal mechanism to resolve the crisis within it.

The Governor said that ignoring the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and his team poses a great danger for the party. Ortom stated this during the party stakeholders meeting held at the new banquet hall of government house, Makurdi.

The governor insisted that the national leadership of the party should address the injustices meted out to Wike and other members of the party. Ortom said that attempt to ignore the Rivers State governor or anyone of the team, may spell doom for the party.

“If you dismiss us and say you do not need us, I believe that will be dangerous. I want the party to address the injustices so that as we move into the elections, we will work together and we will have no crisis.”

He added, “There is 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 to shove people around as though they are not relevant. Everyone is relevant and one vote can make one fail at the elections.

“The leadership at the national level should do more. Politics is interest and what is the interest if not our state and our people. What do I tell my people in Benue?”

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He further said, “National PDP failed to use its internal mechanism to resolve crisis rocking the party.

Speaking on the caucus meeting, Ortom said the stakeholders meeting was to discuss the formation of the campaign council of the state.

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

September 19, 2022