Samuel Ortom agrees with Obasanjo that Peter Obi is the best man for the top job

GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State has backed former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s endorsement of the Labour Party's presidential candidate Peter Obi in next year's polls saying it was the right call to make.

In February, Nigerians go to the polls, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) selecting former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as its candidate and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) going for former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. There are two other main contenders in the race too as Governor Obi is standing as the Labour Party candidate and former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso is running as the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate.

In his New Year message, Chief Obasanjo, who presided over Nigeria's affairs between 1999 and 2007, said that Governor Obi was his preferred choice of the quartet. According to Chief Obasanjo, Governor Obi has the edge over every other candidate in the race, as among other things, he has people to call him to order when there is the need for it.

Throwing his weight behind this assessment, Governor Ortom, said Peter Obi, the former Anambra State governor, us the right candidate, who can provide Nigerians the leadership they earnestly yearn for. He maintained that if he were not a member of the PDP, he would have personally led Governor Obi’s campaign across the country.

Terver Akase, Governor Ortom's spokesman, said his boss recommended Governor Obi to Nigerians as the man who has the capacity to effectively tackle the economic, security and other challenges facing the country. He added that Governor Ortom  is convinced that Obi possesses the qualities of a leader who will be a true president of the country by guaranteeing justice, equity and fairness for all Nigerians.

Mr Akase  said: “The governor stresses that for some years, the country has been tottering on the verge of collapse, owing to leadership failure and its attendant consequences of poverty, heightened insecurity with banditry, kidnappings and other acts of terrorism threatening the very foundations of the nation. He says the president that Nigeria needs at this challenging time in the country’s history is one who understands the urgent need to unite the people and speedily initiate policies and actions to redirect the ship of the nation on the path of growth and development.

"He emphasises that Peter Obi has all such qualities. Governor Ortom lauds Chief Obasanjo for once again demonstrating objectivity, truth and patriotism as a statesman whose views on national issues must be taken seriously.”