From Joseph Uchenna, in Makurdi
Former Benue State governor Chief Samuel Ortom has said the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP is willing and ready to go into strategic partnership with any party to produce a formidable candidate that would oust the APC administration.
Speculations have been rife that the PDP is considering partnering with a faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Sen George Akume.
Chief Ortom who was addressing over 1300 political appointees that served under his administration at his Judge’s quarter residence in Makurdi on Sunday, stressed that politics is about inclusiveness and interest, maintaining that the essence of he partnership is to ensure that they come together and confront a common front.
He said as the only politician in the State who won governorship seat under two (2) parties platforms, APC in 2015 and PDP in 2019, the strategic partnership is doable.
Said he, “Strategic partnership is about looking unto God and allowing Him to decide who leads us in whatever position. We want to see how we can come together and confront a common front. Politics is about inclusiveness and interest. At the end, we will sit together and see what to do. Am the only one who won election as Governor under 2 parties APC and PDP.
“Am not leaving PDP but can do strategic partnership. Am not going to contest any election in 2027 but have followers so I want them to achieve their aspiration.
“I urge you to be strong, do not worry about what is happening in APC, it is God’s design. PDP will not die but move from strength to strength. We won’t be hostile. We do not need a chaotic situation to take over governance of the State. Nobody will be allowed to rig election in 2027. Let the law be respected and obeyed. Let us stop running down our leaders using the social media platform.
“George Akume is leader of Benue politics and have accepted to a give and take arrangement. What is happening in Benue State is not right” .
While reflecting on Governorship election in 2023, Chief Ortom expressed regrets over the nomination of erstwhile speaker of the State Assembly Titus Uba as the PDP candidate
He said, “in 2023, the mistake I made was to impose a Governorship candidate on the party. 18 members of the assembly asked me to give the then speaker Titus Uba without consulting with God. I apologize to those who emerged ahead of him including Paul Angya, Terkaa Ucha and Dennis Tyavyar during the mock primary.
“I pleaded for him to be accepted. God brought another sign, his ill-health we spent over 300 million naira on him. I lost election for Senator in 2023, I never wanted to contest but preferred my wife to. God never told me to contest for Senator that is why I did not go to court after the loss. Next time, I will consult God before contesting”.
Chief Ortom frowned strongly at the attitude of traditional rulers in the State who are expected to custodian of culture and people adopting preferred people as candidate, insisting that it is an aberration which would be challenged in court
“This is wrong and we will go to court because the law prohibits them from partisan politics. They should embrace all the political parties and their aspirants.
On the botched national PDP Ibadan convention , he said, “we knew it was a scam because a federal high court had given injunction stopping the convention from holding only for a state high court to give a contrary ruling.
“Fresh congresses will be held in 14 state and a legitimate national convention would be conducted”.p
