Ortom breaks ranks with Wike saying he backs Iyorchia Ayu as PDP national chairman

GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State appears to have broken ranks with his Rivers State counterpart Nyesom Wike as he has distanced himself from those calling for the removal of Peoples Democratic party (PDP) chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

In late June, the PDP elected former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its flagbearer for next year's presidential election at its annual convention. Governor Wike was a candidate in that election but he was beaten into second place and to make matters worse for him, he was not then picked as the party's running mate.

With Alhaji Abubakar opting to pick Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate, Governor Wike has been on the war path and there are now fears that he will dump the PDP. Among other things, he has been fraternizing with members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)  lately, amid talk of him possibly decamping.

One of the key demands of the Wike camp has been that Senator Ayu stands down, as he, like Alhaji Abubakar is from northern Nigeria and for the sake of unity, it was argued that a southerner should replace him. Governor Ortom was one of Governor Wike's staunchest supporters, along with the likes of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.

However, it appears that Governor Ortom has now broken ranks with them as said he has utmost confidence in Senator Ayu’s ability to lead the party to victory in next year’s general election. He then dismissed allegations by the Jemgbagh Development Association that he was plotting the downfall of his fellow Benue man, Senator Ayu.

A spokesman for Governor Ortom said: “Governor Ortom vouched for the integrity and capacity of Dr Iyorchia Ayu to lead and rebuild the PDP to victory and rescue Nigeria from the misrule of the APC maladministration. That is why Ayu was returned unopposed by the northern caucus of the party and got elected as the national chairman of the PDP at the party’s convention.

“Where was the Jemgbagh Development Association when Governor Ortom galvanised support from across the leaders of the party to make Dr Ayu PDP’s national chairman? What was their contribution to that project that they now want to use clannish stance to blackmail the governor?

“This amorphous and emergency Jemgbagh Development Association, Abuja, which has never been heard of before, is now masquerading as the voice of Jemgbagh to embark on campaign of calumny against Governor Ortom, who has worked selflessly for the people of Benue State. Governor Ortom is more Jemgbagh than most of the people claiming it now.

"This is fact, because he has done more for Jemgbagh, both in terms of appointments and projects executed as well as patronage in the area, than even one of the Jemgbagh sons, who was governor. Besides, Governor Ortom has consistently worked for the unity of Benue State and will never stand in the way of any of her citizens, either here in the state or in the diaspora.

“For those, who claimed to be leaders of this Jemgbagh Development Association, Abuja, we urge them to be truly developmental in their drive to build cohesion among the people and attract real development to their area rather than engaging in mischief or blackmail."