The immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has declared his support for a southern candidate to continue the presidency in 2027.
Speaking at a media interaction in Makurdi, Benue State, on Thursday, the former governor stated that in line with the gentlemanly agreement of rotating presidency between the North and the South, the South should be allowed to complete its eight years before the baton returns to the northern part of the country.
He said, “Till today, I, Ortom, believe in the southern presidency. Even if my party (PDP) is producing a candidate for the Presidency in 2027, the candidate must be from the South. South should be allowed to complete eight years.
“So, for me, I am not supporting a northern candidate.”
Ortom, ex-Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) alongside the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, kicked against the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2023.
The G5, as popularly called then, insisted that the North, having ruled for eight years by President Muhammadu Buhari, power should return to the South.
When asked to assess President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Ortom applauded the ongoing reforms, stating that the reforms were adding value to the economy.
“Tinubu’s administration is doing well, he is ensuring that the rule of law prevails and this is good for our country.
“The oil industry has been a place where few cliques siphoned our commonwealth but with the subsidy removal, there is a lot of money for states.
“The President even stated this during his visit to Benue at the height of the killing of our people in Yelewata, where he said that no state would say it doesn’t have money to pay salary.
“Also, the tax reform is a good step, and the ongoing reforms will help our economy to grow. Tinubu is not partisan, his dream is to make the country grow.”
He, however, castigated the ex-President Buhari’s administration, stating that the past administration took the country from top to bottom.
He stated that he was denied a N75bn grant to clear salary and gratuities and infrastructural development in the state by the Buhari-led administration because of his stance to defend his people.
Ortom, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, said he was not part of the coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, Peter Obi, among others.
He said, “I remain a member and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party. I am even a BoT member of my party and I don’t believe in coalition, but where there’s a need for strategic partnership, you will see me there.”
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