Ortom: I’ve not anointed anyone as my successor — I’m not God!

Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, says he did not anoint Terwase Orbunde, his former chief of staff, or any other aspirant as his successor. 

Ortom said this on Wednesday when stakeholders from the Kwande intermediate area paid him a solidarity visit at the Benue People’s House in Makurdi. 

He said the clarification became necessary to dismiss insinuations by the former chief of staff that he had betrayed him after the party zoned the governorship position to Vandeikya.

“Terwase is my brother and friend. We have come a long way. That is why God told me in 1995 that he (Orbunde) will anchor my governorship campaign. So I came from Zaria where I was in school to inform him. When it was time, he joined me in 2015 to actualise my dream,” he said. 

“I never promised Orbunde or any of the aspirants that they will succeed me. I am not God to anoint anyone to be governor. That is why I have allowed the process to be followed diligently. How could I have promised him that I will make him governor.”

Ortom also said Orbunde did not invest N160 million into his governorship campaign, as is being alleged.

“Orbunde never gave me money during the governorship campaigns,” he said. 

“Those who are close to him (Orbunde) should pray for him. There is an assignment he said God sent him to do. He should go back to complete that assignment. I am sure God will uplift him.” 

Ortom assured that a level playing field would be provided for those who have been cleared to participate in the governorship primary election in the state.

Orbunde recently decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the governorship election.