Ahead of 2023 general elections, Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom has reportedly stated that he won’t be supporting the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, due to the killing of Benue people.
The Sun reported that Governor Ortom stated this Sunday night, November 6, when he hosted Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state, Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state in Government House, Makurdi.
The four governors were in the state ahead of the flag-off of PDP election campaigns for the 2023 general election as well as the commissioning of some projects executed by Governor Ortom in Makurdi .
The publication stated that Ortom who lamented the killing of 18 people in his Local government last week, said;
“To hell with Atiku and anyone supporting him. They should go and tell him. You want me to be slave for a Fulani. It’s better I die. Anybody supporting Atiku is an enemy of Benue.
“My people are being killed and you want me to be quiet.
My tenure ends in may and you can do what ever you want if you think you have the powers. I have written my will. When I gave it to my wife, she cried all night.
If I die at 62, many of my mates have gone long time ago and If I die today, I’m a fulfilled person but let it be recorded that I died resisting the invasion and killing of my people.
“I will never support a Fulani man to become president. If there is another person who is ready to work with me and ensure the security of my people, I will work with him,” Ortom said.
He said Wike holds a title as the Eagle of Tiv land noting that when he, Ortom, was attacked, Wike was the first person who roared that ”kill Ortom and you have killed the whole Nigeria.”
“He did not keep quiet when Benue was under siege, he visited with stakeholders from Rivers state and committed N250 million and subsequently he has committed over N700 million to Benue IDPs.
