Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Saturday said Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State was the right person to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Ortom’s comments come as the latest in the crisis which has engulfed the Peoples Democratic Party and is threatening the party’s chances of victory in 2023.
Ortom spoke at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium during the inauguration of the PDP state campaign in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he also stated that he was the first governor from the North to back southern presidency.
He said this was in the interest of fairness and justice.
The Benue governor, one of the aggrieved five governors of the PDP, seeking the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, said, “Nigerians, for the sake of equity, fairness and justice, expect that after eight years of President Buhari, the next President should go to the south irrespective of political affiliation and that is the right thing to do. We are Nigerians and we must ensure that all of us work together.”
Ortom said Wike was the right candidate to succeed Buhari but “enemies of progress” ensured he didn’t win the party’s presidential primary in May.
Addressing a large crowd of the PDP supporters in Rivers, Ortom said, “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.
“I want Rivers State people to work with our governor, Governor Nyesom Wike, and at the end of the day, just like the G5, 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 – security, economy, social life – and help us retain our image,” he stated.
The event was attended by Ortom and other members of the PDP G5 – Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
Ayu and PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar were not at the event.
