9th November, 2022
By Olaide Ayinde
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has apologised over his statement that he would never support a Fulani man to become the president of Nigeria.
Ortom made the statement during the launch of the Benue PDP campaign for the 2023 election in Makurdi, the state capital.
But speaking after a closed door meeting with the five governors of the PDP Integrity Group otherwise called PDP – G5, on Wednesday in Bauchi, Ortom apologised to people who may have felt offended by the remarks on the Fulani people.
“I want to say that, that was not what I meant when I was captured saying that. But all the same, I know it will amount to logical fallacy.
“If people have taken it the way I did but I want to say, to those who are offended by my remarks, I didn’t mean that. I am sorry about that,” he said.
Also speaking at the end of the meeting, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State confirm that he wrote a letter to the leadership of the PDP to register his grievances over anti-party activities against his re-election bid by some of its members in the state.
“As a loyal member of the party, I felt betrayed, hence the letter to seek for redress,” he said.
He said the letter was with all honesty, sincerity and a deep sense of fidelity, adding, “that was why the party invited me to discuss with its presidential flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in Abuja.
“We discussed extensively and I have gotten some explanations because the letter I wrote was not only written by me, it was written by the PDP family in Bauchi State, the government of Bauchi State, and that is why I was there,” he said.
For his part, Nyesom Wike explained that the PDP – G5 governors are opened for dialogue, and never closed doors for reconciliation.
“All we are asking for is equity, fairness and justice and that is the hallmark of what PDP stands for.
“We have never closed the door and we will not close the door. All we are saying is let the right thing be done,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mohammed held a closed door meeting with Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.