* As all G5 get honoured as Honorary Citizens of Benue State
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says nobody can break the ranks of the five governors (G5) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who have continued to insist that Dr. Iyorchia Ayu resigns his position as the national chairman of the party.
Governor Wike noted that because the G5 have remained dogged on their demand, people have made several efforts to break their ranks but cannot succeed.
The Rivers State Governor spoke at the new Banquet Hall of Benue State Government House, Makurdi, during a dinner on Sunday’s night organised in honour of the G5 by Governor Samuel Ortom.
Those efforts are failing, governor Wike asserted because the five governors are bonded to save Nigeria.
“And if you look at us here, the way we are, people have tried to see how they can break us, you cannot. We are bonded to save Nigeria.
“That is why when you see all of us, we are impenetrable. Nobody can divide us. They have tried everything in this world to divide us, but no way.
“The way we operate; I will talk, we have people who don’t talk. You may be underrating them. By the time they will shock you, you will think it is Wike, it is not Wike you are seeing.”
It was an evening of display of the rich culture of the Benue people in which Governor Ortom proclaimed, bestowing Honourary Citizen’s Status on governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
Governor Wike said Nigerians are expecting the PDP to rescue the country, but it appears that the leadership of the party is not showing serious commitment to that course.
He stated that inclusivity remains a precursor for peace and unity, because it will allow everybody to have equal sense of stake both in the party and to work together for the desired electoral victory.
“Agreement is agreement. Respect agreement, so that there will be peace, there will be unity. What we are asking for is inclusivity; include everybody.
“We are not talking about presidential candidate. We have finished that one. We have a presidential candidate, we have a vice presidential candidate.
“But that one that will go to the other people, give them so that everybody will move forward. That is what we are saying, nothing more.”
Concerning the 25 buses donated to Benue State PDP for their campaigns, Governor Wike corrected and gave clearer perspective to it.
Governor Wike explained that the buses are part of the bulk of vehicles his team acquired for his presidential campaigns if he had won the primary.
But since that ambition did not materialise, Governor Wike said, the team decided that the vehicles should be shared among those who supported the course.
The buses, he noted, will help in easing their efforts as they re-enact the winning position of the party.
“So, Ortom saying I gave you people vehicles, it is not correct. They are the vehicles that our team bought that time because of the (presidential primary) election, we would have won it, but to God be the glory.”
Governor Wike said they were in Benue State to show solidarity to Governor Ortom who he described as a good man.
The Rivers State governor thanked the government and people of Benue for bestowing on them the honourary citizen’s status of the State.
Governor Wike said the G5 constitutes a people who have show leadership in their various States, and on issues of national concern, taken the risk to speak the truth, maintained integrity and are consistent.
“I thank all of you for this honour you’ve done to all of us, the integrity governors. The governors who can come up and tell you black is black, yes is yes. We don’t bend, we say it as it is.
“Leadership is taking risk. Leadership is about integrity, and discipline.”
He further added, “Governor Ortom, what we have come here to do today is to give you solidarity for tomorrow’s (Monday) campaign, to tell the people of Benue, we are with governor Ortom.”
In his speech, the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom acknowledged that as an Eagle of Tiv land, Governor Wike was the first to stand by them, spoke truth to power, and gave support when the Fulani bandits killed Benue people.
“Many have wondered why I have chosen to swim with Governor Wike. Many have wondered why I have chosen to work with him in darkness and in the midst of storms and threats and also trial and brimstone.
“This is a man who stood with us during our trying times and came out, did not fear about threats of the Federal government or Federal might, but came out and say look, if you kill Ortom, you have killed Nigeria.
“They call it farmers /herders fight. We say it’s all lies, Fulani is coming to invade us. Wike came out, brought stakeholders from Rivers State and they came here. Wike offered us solidarity and in faith with the Benue people and give his commitment.”
Governor Ortom revealed the monetary support that Governor Wike gave, was a demonstration of his love for Benue people.
“As if that was going to be end, he (Wike) committed money, then it was N250million. I remember High Level Main Market got burnt, Governor Wike heard about it, we did not make any demand, Governor Wike came and donated N200million.
“I remember when Katsina Ala Market got burnt, Governor Wike came and donated another N200million. Subsequently, the money he has committed is over N700million for our IDP’s. Is he not a friend enough that we should work with?
“We have never had it good. He was the same person who was able to convince our colleague and brother from Akwa-Ibom State who also donated N200million. Then the governor of Taraba State donated a N100million to our IDP’s.”
Governor Ortom also clarified that the Rivers State governor is not against Dr. Ayu as a person, but he is standing for what is true, fair, equity and justice in the PDP.
“I was the chairman of the zoning committee. The National Working Committee did not make me chairman, it was the group of those who were nominated that made me chairman.
“It was agreed in that meeting that since people have bought forms, let us allow everybody to contest, but that once a presidential candidate comes from the North, the Chairman will go to South. That was the arrangement.
“I want you to know that Governor Wike is not against Benue State. He is not against the National Chairman being from here (Benue) because he is a title holder from Benue State.
“He (Wike) is not against it, but he just standing for the truth. Agreement is agreement and it is important we keep to the agreement. If you don’t keep to agreement, then you are creating problems.”
Governor Ortom informed that the G5 have all agreed to work together for the good of Nigeria and to deliver it from the basement bad leadership has plunged it.
“They (G5) have stood with us. They have supported us. They are here tonight. Tomorrow we are launching our campaign. That shows love.
“I want to thank them for standing for justice. I want to thank them for standing for equity. I want to thank them for standing for fairness. That is all that we need.
“We are where we are today because we have refused to respect the rule of law and respect justice, equity and fineness for all.
“As a mark of honour tonight for our very distinguished personalities, by the powers conferred on me as the Governor of Benue State, I have given these four governors, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Engr. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State as Honorary Citizens of Benue State.”
Meanwhile The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, late hours of Sunday called the bluff of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, saying, “to hell with Atiku”.
The governor made the statement when he hosted his colleagues from Rivers, Oyo, Abia and Enugu States to a dinner party held at the government house, Makurdi.
The four governors, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, had arrived in Makurdi on Sunday for the official flag-off of the PDP governorship and parliamentary campaign scheduled for Monday.
They are expected to inaugurate some projects in the state before the campaign.
Ortom said he would not support Atiku’s presidential bid to continue the killing of Benue people.
The governor lamented the killing of 18 persons in his council area last Friday where a young man in his 20s had his eyes removed to send a message to him.
He 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 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 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.
The governor appreciated God for journey mercies granted to his colleagues from their various destinations to Benue State and described them as true friends of Benue people.
He said Wike held a title as the Eagle of Tiv land, noting that when he, Ortom, was attacked, Wike was the first person who roared, saying 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.”
Ortom condemned some Benue sons, particularly those at the National Assembly, who, according to him, are keeping mute over the killings going on in the state, saying, “From tomorrow, I’m turning my venom on the National Assembly members from the state who are romancing with Buhari to kill the Benue people.”
He stated that as the state launches the campaign, it is his belief that the PDP will win the 2023 elections.
“As we trust in him, 2023, if the elections will hold, we are good to go and by the grace of God we will win. Benue is PDP and PDP is Benue State,” he said.
He warned those who may have planned to come to Benue to rig elections to shelve such plans because, “If you come here to rig any election, we are not going to accept it.”
Speaking on behalf of the G-5 governors, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said they were out to save the country from the present condition of total collapse.
“The G-5 are the integrity governors and anyone can challenge us. We have come to give Governor Samuel Ortom solidarity support for the flag-off of campaigns in Benue and to tell Benue people that we are with Governor Ortom. Like us or hate us, we are with Ortom. You cannot break us. We are bonded together.
“Leadership is risk-taking. Whether you like him or not, Ortom has shown leadership,” and he called on the people to support him all the way.
He further reiterated his call on the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, to respect agreements that he would resign if the presidential candidate of the party came from the north.
When contacted, spokesman for the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, promised to get back to our correspondent as soon as possible.
“I will react soon. I am quite busy now but I will definitely get back to you on that,” he pledged.
