EXTRA: Ortom names road to Ayu’s house after Wike

Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, has named a road in the state after his Rivers counterpart, Nyesom Wike.

The 2.1km township road named after Wike is among the projects inagurated on Monday after the flag-off ceremony of the 2023 campaign in the state.

Ortom, who will complete his tenure as governor next year, had won the PDP ticket to contest the Benue north-west senatorial district election in 2023.

Wike, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu were governors who were present with Ortom at the campaign flag-off.

The road also leads to the residence of Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The five governors, with Wike as the arrowhead, have been demanding the resignation of Ayu as national chairman.

They have boycotted the PDP presidential campaign following Ayu’s refusal to resign his position.

Wike had contested the PDP presidential primary in May but lost to Atiku Abubakar.

The Rivers governor also lost the PDP vice-presidential ticket after Abubakar picked Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta, over Wike who was recommended by a panel comprising governors and national working committee (NWC) members. 

Although Ortom hails from the same Tiv-speaking part of Benue as Ayu, he has aligned with Wike and said the Rivers governor has been unfairly treated by PDP.

While addressing the governors who arrived in the state on Sunday, Ortom described Wike as a “worthy friend” who has always shown support for the people of Benue.

He said Wike has donated over N900 million to Benue to support the government to tackle the humanitarian crisis occasioned by “unwarranted attacks”.