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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said that that it was right for the successor of the President Muhammadu Buhari to come from the southern party of the country in 2023.
Ortom stated thisnon Saturday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, in Port Harcourt, during the inauguration of the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state campaign.
He added that in the interest of fairness and justice, he was the first governor from the North to back southern presidency.
Addressing a large crowd of the PDP supporters in Rivers State, Ortom, who is one of the aggrieved five PDP governors seeking the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, said: “Nigerians, for the sake of equity, fairness and justice, expect that after eight years of President Buhari, the next president should go to the South irrespective of political affiliation and that is the right thing to do. We are Nigerians and we must ensure that all of us work together.”
The Benue governor said Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State was the right candidate to succeed Buhari but “enemies of progress” ensured he didn’t win the party’s presidential primary in May.
“Your son from Rivers State contested and it was said that he lost but some of us believed that he was the right person to unite, bring us together and ensure justice, fairness and equity for Nigerians.
“I want Rivers State people to work with our governor, Governor Nyesom Wike, and at the end of the day, just like the G5, we will decide what we are going to do because Nigeria today is in turmoil and it is only when we do the best that can help us out of our challenges – security, economy, social life – and help us retain our image,” he stated
The event was attended by Ortom and other members of the PDP G5 – Governor Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).