Ortom while speaking at a dinner party for his colleagues, said he would not be supporting the former Vice President in the 2023 presidential election.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is yet to react after Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State said he's not supporting Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of his party for the 2023 presidential election.
Ortom while speaking at a dinner party for his colleagues, said he would not be supporting the former Vice President in the 2023 presidential election.
He stated this on Sunday night when he hosted the party’s G-5 Governors comprising Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) at the Government House, Makurdi.
Ortom stated that Atiku was not concerned about the continuous killings of the Benue people, stressing he should not expect any support from the state.
The Benue State Governor while lamenting the killing of people in his local government last week said, “to hell with Atiku and anyone supporting him.”
Ortom noted that anyone supporting the presidential ambition of Atiku in 2023 is an enemy of Benue State, saying that he would rather die than become a slave to a Fulani man.
He had said, “To hell with Atiku and anyone supporting him. They should go and tell him. You want me to be a slave for a Fulani. It is better that I die. Anybody supporting Atiku is an enemy of Benue.
“My tenure ends in May, and you can do whatever 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 a 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.”
However, as of the time of filing this report, the PDP Presidential Campaign Council has failed to respond to the claims made by the Benue governor.
Also, Atiku’s media aides have yet to react to the meeting of the five aggrieved PDP governors and the comments made by the PDP leaders.