Ortom replies Arewa Youth’s resignation demand, says group is insensitive

Following the demand by the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF) led by one Yerima Shettima, saying that the Executive governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom should resign as the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Zoning Committee ahead of the 2023 general election, the governor said, there was no need.

Ortom said, he will serve and complete the assignment, insisting that the idea of resignation was out of place.

The Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF) in a media report accused governor Samuel Ortom of
compromising his position for receiving his Rivers State counterpart, Governor Nyesom Wike in Makurdi, the Benue State Capital.

Rivers governor visited Benue State on Sunday
March 28th where he declared his presidential ambition to contest for the 2023 presidential elections.

But in a swift reaction, the Arewa Youths Consultative leader, Shettima alleged that the N200 million naira donated by Governor Wike to help rebuild the burnt Katsina Ala and High Level Makurdi markets in Benue state was to compromise Ortom.

Ortom berated Shettima for being insensitive to the plight of the distressed people of Benue and wondered how a gesture to distressed people would compromise him.

The Governor stated: “I am shocked that some people can be insensitive to the plights of others who are distressed. What my brother Governor Wike did was to identify with our pains and offered succor to the best of his ability.”

He pointed out that he is only “first among equals and not a dictator to impose any idea on members of the PDP zoning committee” who he said “are distinguished Nigerians who have excelled in their careers in life. So for anyone or group to come out to suggest that one man will impose his will on the other 36 members is insulting.”

“Members of this committee will work out the best for this country and Nigeria will be better for the outcome of our assignment,” he stated.

On allegations that he was given money to influence him, Governor Ortom declared; “This is not the first time Wike will donate money to Benue State. Wike has been one of the people in this country who have contributed to the upkeep of the more than 1.5 million Benue people living in IDPs.”

He went on: “Wike has also donated money to other states including some in the north. That did not make news to this so called Arewa Youths. Besides, he is not the first presidential aspirant to come to Benue to identify with our plight.”

Governor Ortom continued, “Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was in Benue to consult with us a couple of weeks ago and he donated the sum of N50million to the IDPs. Then, Shettima and his Arewa youths did not see anything wrong with that and they did not ask me to resign.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we, in Benue state have no hatred for any one of group of people . We will receive and accord due respect to any Presidential aspirant who come to consult us over his or her political ambition,” the governor maintained.

“So it is hypocritical for this faceless group to twist this narrative of Wike’s visit is unfair and uncharitable. We must be open to all so that we get the best out of many that have come out to rescue this country from the misery the APC government has put us into,” the governor maintained.

Ortom reiterated that he will carry out the assignment diligently, honestly and will be guided by a good sense of justice and fairness to all.