From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi, Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to retract and tender public apology for his comments against him and Benue people over killings in Gbeji, Ukum Local Government Area by suspected herdsmen.
He also expressed disappointment at alleged lies against him by Atiku that he profiled Fulani herdsmen while claiming that Benue people have been stealing cows from his farm.
Governor Ortom spoke in Makurdi, yesterday, when youths from Jemgbagh comprising of Gboko, Buruku and Tarka local government areas led a solidarity march to his office.
Ortom, who pledged to remain a servant of the people told Atiku to tender a public apology to the Benue people if he wanted the support and vote of Benue people.
“I vehemently condemn the statement against me by Atiku. When it got to me, I protested to him through a WhatsApp chat and he apologised to me but I told him that message did not go down well with my people and he should make it public he decline to make a public apology.
“You cannot under dress an elder like me in public and come back to dress me in the room. I told him it was wrong. Let it be on record that at no point did I tell him that some of my brothers, the Benue people, were stealing my cows. He lied against me and I take exception to this and demand an apology. It is unbecoming of a presidential candidate to be telling lies.
“I never also profiled Fulani as a whole and did not say all of them are bad. They are my friends, they can even go into my bedroom. I have never sent any Fulani man away. But I’m against the Fulani terrorist coming from Niger, Chad, Senegal and Mali. They are killing our people and I cannot keep quiet.
“He must do a retraction. If he does not, on the day of election, we will vote according to the election. We cannot vote a president who will continue the carnage against our people.”
He alleged that Atiku had been unfair to Benue people and his ambition has blindfolded him to want to use him as a scape goat.
“Atiku is unfair to the people. You think Fulani will make you president? It is impossible. Whether I make it to the Senate or not, I want to tell you, Atiku, that we are not going to accept it.
“You have committed sacrilege against Benue people. Please apologise to us if you want us to remain in the same party and vote for you”, he said
Ortom lamented that over two million IDPs were in Benue, arguing that it was unacceptable. He insisted that Benue cannot bring an enemy who would continue with the carnage.
The youths under the Coalition of Jemgbah Youths had earlier asked Atiku to apologise unless he did not require the votes of the Benue people to actualise his presidential ambition.
They vowed to resist those who wanted to put a clog in the development of the state and Jemgbah in particular.
•Mimiko rejects Atiku’s appointment, backs Wike on PDP crisis
Former Ondo governor, Olusegun Mimiko, has rejected his appointment as leader of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in the state.
He also said he would not abandon his support for Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, on the call for equity within the party.
Mimiko was named leader of the just-constituted Ondo PDP Presidential Campaign Council billed for inauguration on today.
But in a statement by his media aide, John Paul Akinduro, he said he had been inundated with calls and messages from political associates on whether he has abandoned Wike and four other governors demanding the resignation of the National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, as a condition to back Atiku’s presidential aspiration.
He emphasised that he was not consulted by anyone and he did not consent to his inclusion in the state’s PDP PCC list.
“For the avoidance of doubt and to set the record straight, Dr. Mimiko is unwavering in his commitment to the principle of equity, fairness and justice through which he believes a credible push for a PDP victory is possible.
“He fully subscribes to the agitation by his colleagues and other stakeholders in PDP and the generality of Nigerians that the PDP structure must reflect Nigeria’s diversity, if it genuinely wants to unify a visibly divided country.”
•Suspended Osun members alert on imminent loss
This came as some members of the party in Ayedade Local Government Area of Osun State who were purportedly suspended over allegations of anti-party warned that activities of Adekunle Akindele-led Caretaker Committee in the state could jeopardise and diminish the chances of the party if not urgently checked.
The suspended members of PDP from Dotun Babayemi’s Ayedaade Local Government Area, include Chief Segun Odekunmi who is secretary of Elders Forum for PDP in the state, Adelani Ajanaku, former special adviser to erstwhile governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Kehinde Adesiyan, former executive assistant on legal matters to the Governor.
Others are Mayowa Adegboye, Aliyu Adeyanju, Kamorudeen Ojo Elegunmeje, Ajayi Solomon and Munirudeen Adekunle.
In their petition to the national leadership, they warned of dire consequences of leaving the Osun PDP crisis unattended as the elections were gradually approaching.
The suspended chieftains accused the state PDP Caretaker Committee led by Akindele of witch-hunting them because of their avowed support for the gubernatorial aspiration of Prince Babayemi, describing the anti-party allegations as baseless and ludicrous.