2023: Ortom Berates Igbos Working Against Obi’s Victory

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has reiterated his full support for the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, for the 25th February election.

The governor made this known when he hosted the Igbo community assembly in Markudi, Benue State capital on Monday.

He said it is unfortunate that some politicians in Southeast are working against the emergence of the former Anambra State governor as president of the country, stating that all hands must be on deck to ensure that Obi wins the election.

Ortom, who is contesting for the Benue North-West senatorial district, said he is ready to sacrifice his ambition to ensure that Obi wins the presidential election.

Recall that the Benue governor who is among the G-5 governors, had last Thursday openly endorsed Obi for the Saturday presidential election.

READ ALSO: 2023 Presidency: Ortom Finally Endorses Obi 

According to a Channels Tv video report, Ortom said: “For me, it’s not even that I’m contesting an election. Yes, the form was bought for me by the people of Benue State. I’ve gone round; they have accepted that they will vote (for) me.

“But if I’m to sacrifice my senatorial ambition for Peter Obi to win, so shall it be.”

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The comment attracted thunderous applause from the people that gathered at the event.

Ortom said the Igbos of Southeast extraction stand a chance of producing a president after years of agitation against marginalisation.

He said such political stakeholders from the region who are opposing Obi’s emergence should be regarded as “outcasts.”

“I know that if the people are connected in this world, it is the Igbos. This is an opportunity you have to say that an Igbo man from the South East is President because some of us believe in the unity of Nigeria. We believe in working together. That is why we accommodate everybody. We believe in the unity of this country and so let us not miss this opportunity that God himself is providing,” Ortom stated.

He added: “The youth have told me, my own people have told me, stakeholders here, traditional rulers, party people across party lines that Obi’s matter is not about PDP, APC or SDP or any other political party. It is about Nigeria.”

He remarked that Obi’s candidacy is not a matter of ethnicity or political party affiliation but about Nigeria as a country.

“You are many. You have the population and thank God that what is unfolding, Peter Obi is someone that is not bonded by ethnicity and that is why when I hear some prominent Igbo personalities castigating Peter Obi for contesting election, I feel sad.

“Is it not you Igbos that are lamenting that you have been marginalised since after the war? An opportunity has come today and you are still complaining? What do you want? What are you looking for? What do you want? The whole country north, south, east and west are saying that Peter Obi and you hear some people saying we don’t want it ‘haba’ those people should be outcast,” Ortom stated.

He added that he had a revelation from God that Obi will win the election, but will be Nigeria’s president not only for Igbo.