Fresh Trouble For Governor
OpenLife Nigeria reports that there is fresh trouble for Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State. He has, over the years been embroiled in a tangle with the federal government on security matters. But this time, away from Miyeti Allah and herdsmen, he is enmeshed in fresh trouble within his party, the Peoples Democratic Party.
The fresh trouble with the governor began on Thursday night when he tried to sell the candidacy of a former Senate President, Iyorcha Ayu, to northern stakeholders as a consensus candidate for the party’s national chairmanship position which the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led zoning committee had zoned to the north.
Reports have it that the Ugwuanyi zoning committee’s outcome had ignited the interest of former Senate President, Senator David Mark for the national chairmanship position.
David Mark’s interest is also said to have been well received across the length and breadth of PDP especially in the circle of critical stakeholders.
A House of Representatives member who spoke with OpenLife Sunday morning sees Governor Ortom’s move as sabotage.
The Reps member who hails from Benue State but would not want to be publicly quoted maintained that Governor Ortom is set to play the spoiler’s role against Benue’s interest.
He queried the rationale behind Governor Ortom’s soliciting for Iyorcha Ayu on the grounds that “Within the Benue PDP, the Tiv has been producing the governors including the Governor Samuel Ortom himself.
“Therefore, if Benue State is being considered for the position of national chairmanship of PDP, it is only natural that since the Tiv already has the governorship slot, Idoma should pick the chairmanship.
“And we are all supporting David Mark who everyone knows has what it takes to deliver the 2023 presidency to PDP.
“So, we don’t understand the game Governor Samuel Ortom is playing by going to Abuja to sell the candidature of Iyorcha Ayu, a Tiv.
“It is ridiculous, to say the least. But I can assure you that Governor Ortom’s
Problems may have just begun,” the lawmaker asserted.
At the moment, OpenLife gathers that Senator David Mark and a former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido are the front-runners in the race for the PDD chairman.
Lamido is believed to be backed by the loyalists of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, while Mark is said to be supported by the loyalists of former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd); a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Aliyu Gusau, and some other northern elders.
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