Ortom, Wike, Other PDP Govs Aggrieved over Atiku's Choice of Running Mate Take Decision on Defection
- The PDP governors aggrieved over Atiku's choice of running mate are not going to leave the party ahead of 2023
- One of the governors, Samuel Ortom of Benue state, made this known in a live TV interview on Thursday, July 21
- Ortom said he met Governors Wike, Makinde and Ikpeazu in London where they all agreed to remain in the PDP
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Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state says he has met with other aggrieved colleagues, including Governor Nyesom Wike, and they have resolved to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor made this known when he appeared as a guest on Arise News TV's Morning Show monitored by Legit.ng on Thursday, July 21.
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“One thing I want to assure Nigerians is that we are not going to defect to any political party," Governor Ortom said, adding that he recently met with Governors Wike, Seyi Makinde and Okezie Ikpeazu in London, where they took the decision.
Wike, governor of Rivers state, is unhappy with the decision of the PDP's presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to pick Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate over him.
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Ortom is one of the PDP governors who are sympathetic to the plight of Governor Wike, who had earlier lost the presidential ticket to Atiku.
Atiku has agreed to reach out to Wike for reconciliation
The Benue governor said he and his aggrieved colleagues have agreed they are not leaving the PDP. He, however, said the PDP presidential candidate has to reach out to Governor Wike for full reconciliation.
He noted that the Rivers state governor is a big factor who has remained in the PDP even when he (Ortom), and Atiku at some point left the party for the APC.
"Wike in particular has been very instrumental to the growth of our party in the absence of any former President produced by our dear party," the governor noted.
“You are aware that President Olusegun Obasanjo that was produced by this party, you are aware that President Goodluck Jonathan that was produced by this party also has issues. They decided not to get involved in what is happening in the party.
“So, Wike was the anchor man. We discussed this matter in our meeting in London, and we all agreed that we are not leaving the party. But let there be due process and the need to ensure that everybody is carried along.
“You’re aware that since the emergency of PDP in Nigeria, Wike has been there. Even some of us, because of the injustice that was meted out on us in 2015, left for APC, until APC started dancing in the wrong direction. Then, we left back to PDP. Who was instrumental in my coming back? It was Wike.”
Governor Ortom also noted that Atiku has reached out to him to further persuade Wike and said and agreed to sit down with the Rivers governor to iron out their differences.
The Benue governor said once Wike is pacified, he is also pacified. He said they agreed in their meeting that Governor Wike needs to be pacified.
"It is not late to put our house in order," the governor added.
2023: Governor Ortom, Peter Obi meet behind closed doors
Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, met behind closed doors in the Governor’s private residence in Abuja on Wednesday, July 20.
The meeting came less than 24 hours after the governor returned from his two weeks working leave and trip to the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nathaniel Ikyur, indicates that the two leaders jointly addressed the media after the meeting.
Source: Legit.ng
