Ortom: Despite senatorial poll loss, I’m proud to have joined Wike in fight for power rotation

Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, says he is proud of associating with Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, to fight against “injustice in power rotation”.

Ortom is a member of the G5, a group of five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors which includes Wike, Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo; Okezie Ikpeazu, governor of Abia; and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, governor of Enugu.

The governors fell out with the PDP leadership after Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, won the party’s presidential ticket. They refused to support his presidential bid, arguing that his election goes against the agreement to zone the presidency to the south.

The G5 governors also called for Iyorchia Ayu to step down as the national chairperson of the PDP.

Among the G5 governors, Makinde won reelection as governor while three others – Ortom, Ikpeazu, and Ugwuanyi – failed in their bids to secure senatorial seats.

Speaking on Tuesday while commissioning Government Secondary School, Kpor in Gokana LGA, Rivers state, Ortorm said regardless of his loss at the election, he is not a defeated person.

The governor added that he is not deterred from advocating for equity, justice and fairness.

“The Bible says you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. And until we get to that level of saying the truth, and standing by the truth, we cannot get anywhere. I could be a victim of fighting for justice, equity and fairness but that does not deter me and I am not standing here as a defeated person,“ he said.

“I stand tall and I give glory to the Almighty God because the Bible says that many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord God will deliver him from all things worketh together for good for those that love God and are called according to His purpose.

“I am not defeated and I stand tall and I am proud of associating with Governor Nyesome Wike and many others who have chosen to stand by the truth and to ensure equity, fairness, and justice for this country.”

“We have everything we need in Nigeria, what is lacking is equity, fairness, and justice and I am very proud that right from the beginning, I stood firm and said after eight years of Presidency in the North, another eight years should go to the South and I am happy that today this is where we are.”