Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, says he is “fasting and
praying” for divine guidance before deciding to support Atiku Abubakar, the
presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2023
elections.
The governor spoke in a chat with Arise TV on Wednesday.
In May, Atiku had fended off a close challenge from Nyesom
Wike, governor of Rivers, to clinch the PDP presidential ticket.
The candidate then named Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta,
as his running mate despite the party’s national working committee (NWC)
endorsing Wike for the role.
The decision has since created a fissure amongst all
individuals involved and their supporters.
Speaking on the development, Ortom praised Wike as “somebody
who stood for the party and made sure that things worked”, adding that “some of
us believed in him” as the party’s best choice for the vice-presidential
candidate.
He added that he will be supporting Atiku’s presidential bid
only if God directs him.
“All of us have our
weapon; Wike can be ‘something something’ but when it comes to mobilisation,
impact, value addition and reaching out to make sure that the party works the
man is an instrument. He’s somebody who stood for the party and made sure that
things worked. Some of us believed in him, but unfortunately, it was somebody
else. But the party is supreme,” he said.
“However, some of us have resorted to prayers. I have been
in hibernation. We’ve resorted to prayer: ‘Lord God, where do we go from here.’
I believe as a Christian that power belongs to God. The Bible says a man can
receive nothing except it is given to him from above.
“I am praying. I have gone into hibernation. I am fasting
and praying. So in the end, if God directs me that I should support Atiku, why
should I not do it? After all, he’s my party member. But I am waiting for him
to do more. I expect him to reach out to Wike, who came second in the
presidential primary. The man he denied the popular view of the PDP members —
14 out of 17 — who said Wike should be the vice-presidential candidate. I
expect more explanation. I expect him to talk to Wike — whom we are supporting
— first. I expect him to reach out to some of us so that together we can work
as a party.”
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