Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has said he worked against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections because the party betrayed its foundational principles of justice, equity, and fairness.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Ortom defended his actions and reiterated that his decision was based on principle, not personal gain.
“It is on principle, and what I believe,” Ortom stated. “I did that simply because we had thought that PDP would stand for equity, fairness, and justice, which was what I believed. And unfortunately, they did not. Because I couldn’t imagine that PDP, after eight years of Northern Presidency, would now say another eight years or four years of another Northern Presidency.”
He said the G5 governors, of which he was a member, were united in the belief that power should shift to the South.
“For us, who believed in equity, fairness, and justice, especially the G5 at that time, believed that the presidency should go to the South,” he said. “That was why I worked against the PDP in the 2023 election. And I did say that even if I lose my senatorial election after serving eight years as governor, it doesn’t matter. Let it be known that there are people who believe in justice, equity, and fairness.”
When asked about the role of party loyalty and discipline, Ortom said politics is driven by self-interest.
“Politics is selfish. And so, where your interest is not protected, you find something else,” he declared. “Yes, Wike is my friend. We work together all day, today and tomorrow, he still remains my friend.”
On his role as chairman of the PDP zoning committee, which recommended throwing the presidential ticket open rather than zoning it to the South, Ortom said the final decision was made by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
“Yeah, I was the chairman of the zoning committee, but I couldn’t overwhelm what the people wanted,” he explained. “And I reported back to the national executive committee that, yes, this is the position of the committee.”
He further added, “It was NEC that set up that committee. It was the same NEC that decided that it has to be thrown open. And that was done.”
Despite these setbacks, Ortom reaffirmed his commitment to supporting a Southern presidency, both in 2023 and beyond.
“One thing I have said… I have said that I will support a Southern presidential candidate of my party,” he said. “If anybody who is in my party decides to contest, that’s a different thing. But for now, I am supporting a Southern presidential candidate.”
He also accused the PDP leadership and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, of failing to provide an inclusive platform during the election campaign.
“But the candidate and the leadership of the party at that time did not provide the enabling environment for Wike and some of us who were supporting him, to work to ensure the victory of the party.”
Ortom said the group resorted to different alliances as a result of being sidelined. “Wike went for Tinubu. I went for Peter Obi. And others went for whatever they wanted. We in the G5… And at the end, we have this government that is in place,” he said.
He concluded saying, “If God has given us a government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, why can’t we support him? That is what we stand for.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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