From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that he does not see any subsisting problem in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Governor Wike spoke at the Benue State PDP campaign flag-off on Monday, at the IBB Square in Makurdi Town.
Governor Wike said some persons who spoke earlier at the campaign flag-off had alluded to the existence of problems in the PDP, but such a perspective is strange to him.
He maintained that if there is any problem in the PDP, he and his counterparts, now christened the ‘Integrity governors’, would not have been in Benue to participate in the PDP campaign flag-off.
“Some people said here that there is a problem. Me, I don’t know of any problem. If there was a problem, I wouldn’t have come here. There is no problem.”
Governor Wike described his Benue State counterpart, Governor Samuel Ortom, as a gift to his people and encouraged them to continue to believe in him.
“We came here to support a man whom you can go to sleep comfortably with your two eyes closed.
“Your governor is a man who believes in his people. Your governor is a man who can die for his people. Your governor is a man who will never change for whatever it takes because he believes first that Benue must survive.”
Governor Wike stated that because they know Governor Ortom to be such a reliable person that is why they left the comfort of their States to show him solidarity.
“That is why all of us have left everything we are doing in our states to come and give you (Ortom) support, to tell you (Benue people) that anything Ortom tells you to do, do it. It will be in the interest of Benue State.
“We went to commission five projects today. Look, this man (Ortom) is a gift to the people of Benue State. So, I don’t know of any problem, if there was a problem, we wouldn’t have come here.”
In his address, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State acknowledged a worthy sacrifice made by the Integrity five governors who had spent two days in Makurdi to show solidarity and make sure that PDP win all elections in the State.
The Benue State governor said PDP looks good in the State because it has been winning its election and shall win again.
“We pray that God Almighty will bless all of you, bless the time that you have spent here. PDP in Benue State, we have no problem. By the grace of God, we shall win our elections. We have been winning and we will win and we shall win again.”
On his part, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State urged the people of Benue State to bear in mind that it is very important for them to choose life over death.
“We have seen the efforts governor Ortom has made amidst the cry about your plight here in Benue State. Anybody who takes you away from your farms also takes your lives away.
“Therefore, I will ask and urge the people of Benue State to follow governor Ortom. Follow him that knows the (way) road.
“Don’t follow someone who doesn’t know the (way) road. And I believe that Ortom is the Moses that will take Benue to Canaan Land. The candidates of PDP will lead the way that will take Benue out of Egypt. Vote PDP all the way.”
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State also spoke and said he is in Makurdi to support his friend and brother who is the performing governor of Benue State.
Governor Ugwuanyi urged the Benue people to stand with their governor, who is God’s gift to them and ensure they work together to deliver all PDP candidates.
On his part, the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde observed that all the speakers asserted that Benue is PDP and PDP is Benue and urged them to work hard to actualise that assertion in the 2023 election.
“Well, please I beg you in the name of God, do not be complacent. Go out there, put in the hard work and deliver Benue to PDP.
“You’ve done it before and you will do it again. I wish you a successful campaign and by February, March 2023 you would have delivered all your candidates to PDP in Benue State.”