Ortom’s Web of Lies

Samuel Ortom

By Abdul Tijani

Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, recently lied publicly when he said the G5 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would replicate the support they gave President Bola Tinubu’s candidacy in the last general election in 2027 if he decided to seek re-election.

He stated this during a New Year luncheon hosted by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in Rivers State.

Members of the G5 governors are Ortom; Wike; former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, and the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

While four of the governors completed their second term in May 2023, Makinde, who was the only first-time governor at the time, was re-elected in the March 18 governorship election.

The group led by Wike refused to back the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the February 2023 election due to the party’s refusal to remove its National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to ensure balance in its leadership. It had canvassed the emergence of a southerner as the national chairman of the party since both Ayu and Atiku are both northerners.

Ortom said the G5 had no regrets supporting Tinubu in last year’s election and would back him for a second term.

It is surprising that Ortom, who did not even vote or endorse Tinubu for the 2023 election, is saying that he is planning to replicate support for the president in 2027.

Every Nigerian knows that of the five G5 governors then, Tinubu won in only two states – Oyo and Rivers – while he lost Benue, Enugu and Abia states.

It is on record that the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, delivered Benue State to Tinubu and APC, otherwise they would have lost the state.

Though Ortom had thrown his weight behind the popular clamour for power shift to the South, he publicly endorsed the LP presidential candidate, Obi.

With his latest posturing, it is clear that the former Benue State governor is being clever by half by trying to deceive Nigerians.

It is within his constitutional rights to support Tinubu in 2027 but he should not tell Nigerians that he supported him in 2023.