Victor Ezeja
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, and leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Edwin Clark, have queued behind those endorsing Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi for the February 25 election.
Ortom, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G-5 group, commended former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, for his endorsement of Obi as the right person to win the 2023 presidential election and provide the kind of leadership that Nigerians desire.
In a statement through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Terver Akase, on Tuesday, Ortom confessed that if he were not a member of the PDP, he would have personally led Obi’s campaign across the country.
The Benue Governor further urged Nigerians to choose Obi as the right leader that would tackle the daunting economic and security challenges of the nation.
According to Ortom, Obasanjo as a statesman, demonstrated objectivity, truth and patriotism in his views about the criteria for choosing the right leader for the country.
On his part, Clark, a former federal commissioner for Information, said Obi would unite the country with his move to restructure it, if he wins the presidential election.
Clark said the Niger Delta people wish to see a Nigeria where there would be true federalism, especially in the areas of power devolution and resource control.
He said: “That the vision statement shared by Peter Obi at the occasion, as it relates to making Nigeria more productive, using the rich resource endowment in every part of the country; curbing waste and fighting corruption; and creating jobs for our teeming youths through innovative initiatives is very commendable.
“That his restated commitment to restructuring and devolution of power, will promote harmony, peaceful coexistence amongst the states and constituent parts of the country.
“Considering all these factors, and putting His Excellency Peter Obi side-by-side with all other candidates being presented by other political parties, I am convinced beyond doubt, that our country Nigeria has a great opportunity to elect a phenomenal team, the candidate of the Labour Party, and his Deputy, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmad, as President and Vice President respectively.
“I formally hereby announce that I will, therefore, personally, vote for Peter Obi and his vice-presidential candidate on election day, February 25, 2023, as President and Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Clark’s endorsement of Mr Obi is coming about two days after Obasanjo’s endorsement of the LP candidate.
