POLITICS

Running Mate: Atiku Points Out Governor Samuel Ortom’s Lies

<h4>Running Mate&colon; Atiku Points Out Governor Samuel Ortom’s Lies</h4>&NewLine;<a href="https&colon;//openlife&period;ng/">OpenLife Nigeria</a> reports that following the crises that arose from the People’s Democratic Party ,PDP, primary in which Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who became the candidate of the party and picked Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State governor as running mate, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has said efforts are ongoing to resolve the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of the 2023 elections&period; &NewLine;Ortom said the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar reached out to him to pacify Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State&period; &NewLine;He expressed hope that Wike would be pacified and work with Atiku towards ensuring the party returns to power in 2023&period; &NewLine;Speaking with Arise TV on Thursday, the governor explained his relationship with Wike&period; &NewLine;He said&colon; &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;Efforts are on to resolve the crisis in the party&period; Our presidential candidate has reached out to me to pacify Wike&period; Wike stood with me at my worst time when my state was under siege&period; &NewLine;&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;I believe working with Wike will help get a better result&period; Once Wike is pacified, I will also be pacified&period; The issue is not about our personal interests but about Nigeria&period; &NewLine;Earlier, Governor Sam Ortom of Benue State accused party leadership and the presidential flag bearer of disrespecting the first runners-up in the PDP presidential primary&period; &NewLine;Speaking in a live interview with Arise Television, the <a href="https&colon;//www&period;thisdaylive&period;com/">Benue Governor</a> who chaired the committee set up by Atiku to help him arrive at a suitable running mate, revealed that rather than go to Wike in person, Atiku and the party leadership were trying to talk to him over the phone&period; &NewLine;He recalled that 14 out of the 17 members of the committee had recommended Wike for the position of vice-presidential candidate but the recommendation was jettisoned by Atiku in favour of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State&period; &NewLine;However, early Friday on Arise TV, Atiku Abubakar said Governor Sam Ortom lied&period; &NewLine;He explained that they only recommended three names and that no vote was taken to get Wike as PDP Vice Presidential candidate&period; &NewLine;&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote; I did not go out of the recommendation,” he satted adding that &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;We are talking with Wike and very soon, there will be peace in PDP,” he assured&period;&NewLine;