The ongoing imbroglio over the defection plan of the Benue
State Governor, Samuel Ortom, took a new dimension on Monday as two groups from
the People Democratic Party (PDP) rejected the plans by the governor to join
its rank.
The meeting of all aspirants who have indicated
interest in the 2019 governorship
election under the PDP in Abuja rejected the governor even as they claimed that
the governor would be a liability to the party.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, John Tondu, one of
the aspirants said: “The governor of Benue state today is a liability, not an
asset. He’s not welcome.”
Also, the G14, a group made up of prominent Benue elders in
the PDP kicked against the governor joining the party.
The group who met with the immediate past Governor of the
state, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, in Makurdi rejected the move to bring the governor
to the PDP.
A source at the meeting warned that if the governor was allowed
into the party they would move out to seek alternative platform.
He said members of the G14 were angry with some members of
the National executive council of the PDP who are behind the planned move of
the governor.
However reacting to the rejection of the governor by the two
groups, Special Adviser to the Governor on media and ICT, Tahav Agerzuar, said
the statement by the groups is uncalled for, adding that the governor has not
told anybody he will be joining the PDP
He said if the governor was to join the PDP they group of
aspirant will have no say.
"This group of aspirants will have no say as the NEC of
the party and other prominent members will be the ones to consult,” he said.
He said politics is about interest and has no permanent
enemy or friend.
Agerzuar said the governor was tired of one man show and
wants independence, adding that he was consulting to decide on the next
destination.
He also briefed his appointees on the frosty relationship
between him and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the
state and his difficulty in operating in the same party with it.
He said the leadership of the party at the national level
had scheduled a meeting to try to resolve their differences in Abuja in a few days’
time and that he would announce his final decision on party membership
thereafter.
The governor said whatever decision he would take will
reflect the wishes and aspirations of the people of Benue State but will not be
imposed on any of the appointees.
Meanwhile elders from Masev, Ihyarev and Nongov Development
Association (MINDA) geopolitical zone on Monday urged Ortom to make haste and
shop for a new political platform on which to achieve his reelection bid.
The elders’ council under the chairmanship of Senator JKN
Waku took the decision during a meeting at the Makurdi residence of the elder
statesman.
Senator Waku, who was the first to speak, said MINDA had in
the past, supported other blocks including Kwande, Jechira, Jemgbagh and
Sankera to enjoy their turns as Governor of the state and would not allow those
whom he said have catapulted themselves into demigods to cause confusion in
their ranks.
According to Waku, there was no crisis in the All
Progressives Congress in Benue state but one person had decided to hijack the
party and MINDA has no time to waste struggling over a platform, haven been
engulfed by herders crisis.
Mr. Joe Nyam spoke for Gwer East and Sir Vincent Aondoakaa
spoke for Gwer West while Chief Thomas Ano and Dr. David Tsevende spoke for
Makurdi and Guma respectively.
They said but for the military interregnum that cut short
the administrations of Aper Aku and
Father Moses Adasu of blessed memory as Governors of the state, Senator George
Akume and Gabriel Suswam did eight years as Governor and Ortom's case would not
be different.
While assuring the Governor of their unflinching support for
his reelection project, the elders said APC-led administration had not been
fair to Benue people, hence the need to move en mass to another political party
as quickly as possible.
They vowed to resist the antics of divide and rule by any
individual or group of persons, stressing that when a man marries and divorces
several wives, his character should be questioned.
Rep. Dickson Tarkighir and Rt. Hon. Avine Agbom while speaking
for National and State Assembly Members from MINDA said if Benue people abandon
Ortom at this critical time that he had given his all for them, nobody would
speak for the state tomorrow, adding that any Tiv man who complains that
Governor Ortom had cried too much is an enemy of the Tiv nation.
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