By Adadainfo
Gov Samuel Ortom of Benue State should not be dragged into calls from some quarters for the resignation of the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Iyorcha Ayu. Ortom and Ayu are from Benue.
Recall that a group, christened the Wike Camp, demanded the resignation of Ayu before they could become a part of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign team citing balancing of powers between South and North in the PDP. Ortom is said to be Rivers Gov Nyesom Wike’s strong ally.
Nathaniel Ikyur, chief press secretary to Gov Ortom, made the clarifications in a release in Makurdi on Monday. He was responding to claims by the Jemgbagh Development Association, Abuja chapter, accusing Ortom of being among those orchestrating Ayu’s travails.
Ikyur stated that, “Ortom ensured that Dr Ayu was elected PDP national chairman. In the run-up to the national convention, Governor Ortom got the backing of many leaders of the PDP when he vouched for Dr Ayu.
“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 Jemgbagh Development Association when Governor Ortom galvanised support from across the leaders of the party to make Dr Ayu national chairman?
“It is laughable how the association is now masquerading as the voice of Jemgbagh to embark on campaign of calumny against Governor Ortom. Governor Ortom has done more for Jemgbagh both in terms of appointments and projects executed. He 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.”
Jemgbagh Development Association, Abuja chapter, on 3rd Sept 2022, accused Ortom alongside Nyesom Wike of Rivers State of plotting Dr Ayu’s downfall as PDP chairman. The association in a communiqué signed by its president, Terver Felix Abor, and secretary Thomas Iangen, vowed not to ‘watch our stakeholder be dragged to the mud because of one’s selfish interest’, and that those ‘calling for the resignation of Ayu should seek proper redress in the competent court of law and stop demeaning attacks on our prominent son’.
