By THOMAS AKASE, Makurdi –
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has given reasons why the South should produce the President in 2023.
He said for the purpose of justice, equity and fairness, it will be right for a Southerner to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari after eight years of Presidency from the north.
Governor Ortom spoke on Saturday, at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium during the flag off of the Peoples Democratic Party campaign in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Ortom is the first governor from the North to back a southern presidency.
Addressing a mammoth crowd of PDP supporters, Ortom said, “Nigerians, for the sake of equity, fairness, and justice, we expect that after eight years of President Buhari, the next President should go to the South irrespective of political affiliation. That is the right thing to do. We are Nigerians and we must ensure that all of us work together.”
He maintained that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State was the right candidate to have succeeded President Buhari but “enemies of progress” ensured Wike did not win the party’s presidential primary.
“Your son from Rivers State contested, and it was said that he lost but some of us believed that he was the right person to unite, bring us together and ensure justice, fairness, and equity for Nigerians,” Ortom told the teeming supporters.
Governor Ortom in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, also insisted that Wike was denied the running mate ticket to the PDP presidential candidate by those who do not want the best for the country.
He however charged the party’s supporters in Rivers state to continue to work with Governor Wike to ensure victory for PDP candidates in Rivers State.
“Today we are here to flag-off the Rivers State PDP campaign team and with what I have seen here, I want to congratulate the incoming Governor of Rivers State 2023.
“I want us to work together as a team and by the grace of God in 2023 we are going to redeem Nigeria to the path of security, to the path of prosperity, to the path of social life and everybody will be happy,” Ortom stated
The Governor emphasised that “I want Rivers State people to work with our Governor, Governor Nyesom Wike and at the end of the day, just like the G-5, we will decide what we are going to do because Nigeria today is in turmoil and it is only when we do the best that can help us out of our challenges in terms of security, economy, social life and help us redeem our image,” he said.
Governor Ortom described Governor Wike “as a great patriot, a pan Nigerian and a man who believes in equity, fairness and justice” adding that he has shown exemplary leadership.
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