Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has stated that anyone who supports Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy is his enemy
Ortom made the remark at a banquet in honour of governors Wike, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu and Seyi Makinde on Sunday, November 6, 2022, in Makurdi.
The Quest Times reports that Gov Ortom is one of the five PDP governors who have boycotted the party’s presidential campaign, owing to the failure of National Chairman, Sen Iyorchia Ayu.
Ortom said, “To hell with Atiku and any other Fulani man. And any man supporting Atiku and all that is an enemy. I want this to be known as long as I am governor. They should go and tell him. You want me to be a slave for a Fulani. Anybody supporting Atiku is an enemy of Benue,” Ortom said.
“My people are being killed and you want me to be quiet. My tenure ends in May and you can do whatever you want if you think you have the powers.
“I have written my will. When I gave it to my wife, she cried all night. If I die at 62, many of my mates have gone a long time ago and if I die today, I’m a fulfilled person. But let it be recorded that I died resisting the invasion and killing of my people.
“If the elections will hold, we are good to go and by the grace of God, we will win. Benue is PDP and PDP is Benue state.”
He also 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.