Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom
By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
The immediate past Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom has blamed the challenges faced by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on the suspended National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and five members of the National Working Committee of the party.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the immediate past Governor, Dr. Terver Akase said Chief Ortom attributed the crisis to what he described as lack of cohesion in the management of the party’s internal affairs by its leadership.
Chief Ortom, the statement noted recalled that he had previously met with the party’s leaders and offered constructive advice on how to resolve the disagreements in a manner that would have produced a win-win situation for all stakeholders, but regretted that his counsel was ignored with impunity.
He disclosed that the PDP leadership had the opportunity to rise above personal interests and unite the party but failed in its responsibility.
Ortom stated that democracy is fundamentally about inclusion and consensus-building, not high-handedness or exclusion.
“Democracy thrives when people of diverse views and interests come together to find common ground for the good of all. It is, therefore, the responsibility of leaders to harmonize differing opinions and create a sense of belonging among members.
“Unfortunately, what we have witnessed in recent times is an attempt by a few individuals to run the party without recourse to collective consultation or internal democratic processes.” He said.
He expressed optimism that the party would overcome its current challenges, recalling that PDP had survived many storms in the past and had always emerged stronger whenever it embraced fairness, dialogue, and inclusiveness.
Chief Ortom congratulated the newly appointed Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Mohammed Abdulrahman, on his emergence, describing it as a fresh opportunity for the party to heal and rebuild internal trust.
He urged Hon. Abdulrahman and his team to urgently liaise with the Board of Trustees and other organs of the party to initiate genuine reconciliation efforts that would give every member a sense of belonging and renew confidence in the party’s leadership.
The former governor, further, called on the new leadership to promote inclusiveness, dialogue, and respect for all stakeholders and reminded them that no individual could succeed in isolation but emphasized that the PDP’s strength lies in its diversity, collective wisdom, and democratic culture.
While appealing to all members of the party to unite behind the new leadership and recommit themselves to the ideals and values of the PDP, Ortom also reminded party members that, as Nigeria’s main opposition party, the PDP has a duty to offer credible alternatives, hold the government accountable, and defend the principles of democracy and good governance.
