Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has stated that he cannot abandon his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2023 general elections because he has proven to be a trustworthy and dependable ally.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Tinubu Isn’t Holding South East Rallies On Mondays, APC Shifts Date
Ortom made the remarks on Sunday at a banquet honouring governors Wike, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Seyi Makinde, and Okezie Ikpeazu in Makurdi.
When bandits suspected of being Fulani herdsmen attacked him, Wike was the first to condemn it, according to him.
Ortom said, “When Benue was under siege, he donated N250million and he subsequently spent over N700million to support the State to tackle the humanitarian crisis occasioned by the unwarranted attacks.
“He didn’t stop at that. He convinced Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom to also assist the State and he donated N200million to us.
“Is he not a worthy friend? He’s a worthy friend and we’re working together to liberate the country.”
Ortom stated that he will not support the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and that any of Atiku’s supporters is his enemy.
“I’m not going to support any Fulani man to continue to do injustice to my people unless my people tell me to do otherwise,” Ortom said.
Reacting on behalf of the visiting governors, Rivers State Governor Wike thanked Ortom for the honour he had accorded to them.
Wike said, “People want to break us but they cannot, we are bonded; therefore, we cannot be separated.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Obi “I Have Passed Far Better Schools Than…” Tinubu, Atiku, Others
Wike further advised the leadership of the PDP at the centre to always respect agreements for peace to reign.
Both Wike and Ortom are members of a group of five PDP governors who have refused to work for Atiku’s presidential campaign in the 2023 general election.
