Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The immediate past Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, PhD said that he declared his support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 reelection bid as a result of his firm belief in fairness and equity.
Chief Ortom said this on Arise TV show yesterday while fielding questions from the Television Station Morning Show anchors, stressing that the immediate past president of the country, Late Muhammadu Buhari who ruled for eight interrupted years was a Northern.
To Chief Ortom, it would be unfair to the South if he started supporting another Northerner in 2023.
According to the member of the People’s Democratic Party Board of Trustees, it was his belief that the president should complete his eight years tenure as president before anyone can think that the position should be zoned out of the Southern part of the country.
Chief Ortom stated further that it was immediately his friend and national leader of the party, Chief Nyemson Wike was appointed as the FCT Minister that the decision to back Tinubu in 2027 was taken, noting that he will not work against a position he had publicly declared.
“I am a man who stands by his word. I have already declared my support for President Tinubu and my friend, Nyesom Wike, and I will continue to stand by that position,” he said.
The former governor, however, clarified that within Benue State, his support would be for the governorship ambition of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, as well as other candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2027 elections.
Ortom maintained that his political engagements and interventions are always motivated by his commitment to the welfare of Benue people, the protection of democratic values and the pursuit of accountable and inclusive governance in the state.
On the state of affairs in Benue state, Chief Samuel Ortom said that the condition of the State has gone bad under Governor Hyacinth Alia even though the governor himself made it known many times that his administration has gotten more funds from the federal government and other sources than any of the past administrations in the state.
The former governor also accused his successor of blocking every avenue for leaders and stakeholders in the state to advise him and bring solutions to the problems the state is facing today.
According to him, the governor has not given him a chance to meet and advise him as one of the important stakeholders in the state since he assumed duties in 2023.
He also accused Alia of making attacks on targeted opponents as well as disobeying court orders.
Chief Ortom cited an instance where the governor ignored a court order which asked him to release his used vehicles that were lawfully allocated to him and top officials of his administration by the State Executive Council to him.